Angélique Kidjo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Angélique Kidjo
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Kidjo performing at the Gershwin Prize in 2023
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| Born |
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo
Ouidah, French Dahomey (now Benin)
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Jean Hébrail
(m. 1987) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | since 1982 |
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Angélique Kidjo is a famous singer, songwriter, actress, and activist from Benin and France. She has won five Grammy Awards, which are big music prizes. In 2023, she also received the Polar Music Prize, another major award for music.
Angélique Kidjo has released many albums and performed all over the world. She often works with other talented artists. She even performed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in 2021. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021.
Kidjo speaks five languages: Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen (Mina), and English. She sings in all of them! She also has her own special language for some of her songs. Kidjo often uses traditional singing styles from Benin, like the Zilin vocal technique.
Contents
Growing Up and Starting Music
Angélique Kidjo was born in Ouidah, a city in what is now Benin. Her father was a musician, and her mother was a choreographer and theater director. She grew up listening to many different kinds of music. This included traditional music from Benin, and songs by artists like Miriam Makeba and James Brown.
By the age of six, Kidjo was already performing with her mother's theater group. This helped her learn to love traditional music and dance early on. She started singing in her school band, Les Sphinx. As a teenager, she became popular with her version of Miriam Makeba's song "Les Trois Z." This song was played on national radio.
Kidjo recorded her first album, Pretty, with her brother Oscar and producer Ekambi Brilliant. The album was a success and allowed her to tour across West Africa. However, political problems in Benin made it hard for her to be an independent artist. So, in 1983, she moved to Paris, France.
Life in Paris
When Angélique Kidjo first moved to France, she thought about becoming a human rights lawyer. But she decided to study music instead. She worked different jobs to pay for her music lessons at a jazz school in Paris. There, she met Jean Hebrail, a musician and producer. They have written most of her music together and got married in 1987.
She started as a backup singer in local bands. In 1985, she became the lead singer for the jazz/rock band Pili Pili. By the late 1980s, she was one of the most popular live performers in Paris. She then recorded her first solo album, Parakou. In 1991, she signed a record deal with Island Records.
Exploring Her Music
Early Albums
Her first international album, Parakou, came out in 1989. It was the start of many collaborations with Jean Hébrail.
Her first album with Island Records was Logozo, released in 1991. It became number one on the Billboard World Albums chart. Music videos for "We We" and "Batonga" were released. Kidjo then went on her first world tour.
In 1994, she released Ayé. This album included the song "Agolo," which talks about the environment. The music video for "Agolo" earned Kidjo her first Grammy nomination. She sang on the album in both Yoruba and Fon languages.
For her 1996 album Fifa, Kidjo traveled around Benin. She recorded traditional rhythms to use in her music. The famous guitarist Carlos Santana played on the song "Naima." The song "Wombo Lombo" and its video became very popular across Africa.
African Roots Trilogy
Starting in 1998, Angélique Kidjo created a series of three albums. These albums explored the African roots of music found in North and South America.
Oremi
Oremi was recorded in New York. It mixes African and African-American music styles. It includes a cover of Jimi Hendrix's song "Voodoo Child."
Black Ivory Soul
In 2000, Kidjo went to Brazil to record sounds for Black Ivory Soul. This album was inspired by Afro-Brazilian culture.
Oyaya!
Released in 2004, Oyaya! blends Latin and Caribbean music with African guitar sounds.
Later Albums
Kidjo released the album Djin Djin in 2007. Many famous artists joined her on this album, including Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, and Alicia Keys. The album won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
Her 2010 album, Õÿö, honored the music Kidjo listened to as a child in Benin. It featured traditional music, songs by Miriam Makeba, and classic soul music. Bono and John Legend appeared on the song "Move On Up."
Spirit Rising was a live album released in 2012. It featured songs from her whole career, played live in Boston with special guests.
In 2014, Kidjo released Eve, an album dedicated to the women of Africa. She said it was "a testament to the pride and strength that hide behind the smile that masks everyday troubles." The album debuted at number one on the Billboard World Music chart. Eve won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.
In 2015, Kidjo released an album with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. It had orchestral versions of her songs and two new ones. This album also won a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.
In 2018, Kidjo released Remain in Light. This album was her own version of Talking Heads' famous 1980 album, which was influenced by West African music. Kidjo wanted to celebrate their music with her unique vocals and African sounds.
Her 2019 album, Celia, was a tribute to Cuban singer Celia Cruz. It mixed Celia Cruz's songs with an Afrobeat style. Celia won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.
In 2021, Kidjo released Mother Nature. This album featured many collaborations with young African artists. The Independent newspaper called it "celebratory and inclusive." Mother Nature won "Best Global Music Album" at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022.
Memoir: Spirit Rising, My Life, My Music
Angélique Kidjo wrote a book about her life called Spirit Rising. It was published in 2014. In the book, she shares her inspiring journey in music and her work as an activist.
Working with Philip Glass: IFÉ
In 2014, a special musical piece called IFÉ premiered. It was written by the famous composer Philip Glass for Angélique Kidjo and the Orchestre Philharmonique Du Luxembourg. Kidjo sang three creation poems in the Yoruba language. Philip Glass said they built "a bridge that no one has walked on before."
Advocacy and Helping Others
Angélique Kidjo has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2002. She has traveled to many countries in Africa with UNICEF to help children.
She also co-founded The Batonga Foundation. This foundation helps young women and girls in Benin get the education and skills they need. Batonga creates safe spaces for girls to learn about money and build confidence.
Kidjo has supported many other causes. She campaigned for Oxfam's Fair-Trade Campaign and worked with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to celebrate democracy in Africa. She also campaigned for "Africa for women's rights" with the International Federation of Human Rights.
In 2009, UNICEF and Pampers launched a campaign to stop Tetanus. Kidjo produced the song "You Can Count On Me" to support this. Each download of the song helped donate a vaccine.
She has also been involved in environmental campaigns. In 2010, the African Union named Kidjo one of 14 Peace Ambassadors. She also contributed to projects helping women in Congo and fighting AIDS/HIV.
In 2014, Kidjo met with US First Lady Michelle Obama to talk about girls' education around the world. She also joined the People's Climate March in New York. In 2015, she signed a letter urging leaders to focus on women's issues in development funding.
In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron named Kidjo the spokesperson for the AFAWA initiative. This program helps women entrepreneurs in Africa get financial support.
The Batonga Foundation
| Founded | 2006 |
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| Type | Educational Charity No. 501(c(3) |
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In 2006, Angélique Kidjo started the Batonga Foundation. Its main goal is to help and educate teenage girls in Africa. Batonga reaches out to girls who are often left out. It gives them the knowledge and skills they need to live healthy and independent lives.
How Batonga Helps
Batonga finds the most vulnerable girls in Benin. It connects them to safe spaces led by women from Benin. In these safe spaces, young women and girls learn new skills. They learn about managing money and building strong social connections. This helps them become leaders of change in their communities.
When Kidjo was growing up, few girls in Benin got an education. She created the word "Batonga" as a joyful way to say that girls do belong in school. Later, this word became the name of her hit song and her non-profit organization.
Batonga has helped thousands of girls in African countries like Mali, Benin, and Sierra Leone. They have provided scholarships and access to clean water and toilets in schools. They also gave shoes to students for their walk to school.
Since 2015, Batonga has focused on special education programs. These programs are for girls who are most excluded from society. Today, Batonga mainly provides girls with safe places and mentors. They teach them life skills and financial literacy. They also help them start small businesses.
Special Performances
Angélique Kidjo has performed at many important events around the world.
- In 1996 and 2002, she performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo.
- In 2003, she sang with Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour at a concert for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
- She performed at the "We Are The Future" concert in Rome in 2004, organized by Quincy Jones.
- In 2007, she performed at the Live Earth concert in South Africa.
- Kidjo made her debut at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2008.
- In 2009, she performed at the Peace Ball for Barack Obama's inauguration.
- She sang at the Fifa World Cup 2010 Final Draw in South Africa in 2009.
- In 2010, she was part of the Official Kick-Off Celebration Concert for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- She performed with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra in 2011.
- In 2011, she sang at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.
- Kidjo performed for the opening of the Carnival of Recife, Brazil, in 2012.
- In 2012, she was part of International Jazz Day at the United Nations General Assembly Hall.
- She sang at the "Electric Burma" concert in Dublin in 2012, honoring Aung San Suu Kyi.
- In 2014, Kidjo presented her "Mama Africa" tribute concert to Miriam Makeba at Carnegie Hall.
- In 2015, she sang at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- In 2016, she performed at the opening ceremony of the National Museum of African American Culture and History in Washington.
- In 2017, Kidjo performed her "Remain In Light" concert at Carnegie Hall.
- In 2018, she sang "Blewu" under the Arc De Triomphe in Paris. This was to honor African soldiers from World War I.
- In 2021, Kidjo sang Hans Zimmer's arrangement of "Imagine" at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
- She performed at the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 in Dubai in 2021.
- In 2022, Kidjo performed the 1,000th Tiny Desk Concert for NPR Music.
- In 2023, Kidjo started her 40th anniversary live concert tour. It began at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Personal Life
Angélique Kidjo married French musician and producer Jean Hébrail in 1987. Their daughter, Naima, was born in France in 1993.
Other Activities
- Kidjo sang the song "How Can I Tell You?" in the 2020 documentary Nasrin.
- In 2007, she covered John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" for a charity CD.
- She was a judge for the Independent Music Awards, helping new artists.
Awards and Recognition
Angélique Kidjo has received many awards and honors. She has honorary degrees from universities like Yale University and Berklee College of Music.
In 2010, the BBC Focus on Africa magazine named her one of Africa's 50 most iconic figures. In 2020, she was on the BBC's list of 100 Women. The Guardian also listed her as one of its Top 100 Women in art, film, music, and fashion in 2011.
Kidjo was the first woman to be listed among "The 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa" by Forbes magazine. In 2021, Time magazine included her in their 100 most influential people list.
She received the Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum in 2015. In 2016, she received the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International.
Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards for her music. She won for Djin Djin (2007), Eve (2014), Sings (2015), Celia (2019), and Mother Nature (2021).
In 2023, she received the Polar Music Prize, often called the "Nobel Prize of Music." She also received the "Great Immigrants" Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. In 2024, she received the "SDG Vanguard Award" from the United Nations Foundation.
Images for kids
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Kidjo in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Angelique Kidjo para niños
