Angélique Kidjo
@ the Barbican Centre
16 May 2010

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Biography

Angélique Kidjo was born in Cotonou, Benin, July 14 1960. Her first performing experience was as a six year old actor-dancer in her mother’s theatre troupe. From that point on, music became her sole passion. As a teenager, Kidjo was inspired to write songs by the sounds of Hendrix, Santana, Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, James Brown, the Beatles and Aretha Franklin; before her twentieth birthday she was one of Benin’s few professional female vocalists.

Difficulties with the political environment in her homeland, prompted Kidjo to relocate to Paris. Thriving in the city’s African music underground, she progressed from singer of Jasper van’ hof ‘s fusion band Pili Pili, to leader of her own band within five years. Established as one of Paris’s top live acts, Kidjo was quickly discovered by Chris Blackwell and signed on Mango. Today, Angelique Kidjo is a bonafide global phenomenon whose performances are always legendary events.

Kidjo’s style of music varies from afro-funk, reggae, samba, salsa, gospel, jazz, Zairean rumba, souk and makossa which combined together creates her soulful unique sound of music.

As well as being a Goodwill Ambassador with Uniceff since 2002, Kidjo has worked with Oxfam for their Fair Trade Campaign and founded the Batonga Foundation which gives girls a secondary school and higher education so they can take the lead in changing Africa.