From being a backup singer in local bands to becoming a world-wide acclaimed 4-time Grammy Award winner, Angelique Kidjo is the gift that just keeps on giving. Today’s Soot Africa story is a deep dive into the whirlwind life and history of the talented Angelique Kidjo. Let’s take a look at what her early life was like, how she came to love music, and how her music has impacted the African music industry as we know it.
Who Is Angelique Kidjo
Angelique is a renowned Beninese-French singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Kidjo was born in Benin Republic, with her maternal roots in Nigeria. The 62-year-old West African pop star is famous for her eclectic voice and commanding stage presence. Once referred to as Africa’s premier diva by Times magazine, the singer’s songs tell stories of the rich history she carries along with her.
Additionally, she is often grouped along with other powerful African maternal personages like Miriam Makeba and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. For years, Kidjo has chiefly used her voice as an outlet for her African cultural heritage.
Kidjo’s Music
Angelique Kidjo started singing as early as six years of age. Growing up with musical and theatrical-inclined parents certainly made it easy for her to find her voice early on. As a teenager, she sang in her school band and later garnered attention for her adaptation of Miriam Makeba’s “Les Trois Z,” which was played on national radio. Not long after, Kidjo was releasing albums and touring West Africa to push her music further.
In the 1980s Angelique Kidjo moved to Paris due to political conflicts she encountered in her hometown. There, she studied music at a Parisian jazz school and solidified her dedication to the pursuit of music as a lifetime career. She released her first international album Parakou in 1989, followed by several other albums spread throughout her career.
On a more recent feat, Angelique recorded a song for the recent film “Woman King”, chiefly based on the Dahomey people from the Benin Republic. This only seemed appropriate, seeing as her roots came from the Dahomey tribe itself.
Special Recognitions
Where to even begin? Angelique Kidjo’s fame spread far and wide, gaining her a loyal fanbase, awards, and more international recognition. She won four out of 17 Grammy nominations. She has been a part of several advocacy movements including the Save A Life Foundation by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a People’s Climate March endorsee, a peace ambassador for the African Union, and so much more.
One of Angelique Kidjo’s long-standing achievements is the Batonga Foundation founded in 2006. The foundation focuses on empowering and educating adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its founding, the Batonga Foundation has provided young girls with education, mentorship, life, and literacy skills. Just further proof of Kidjo’s dedication to empowering young African girls.
In 2022, she was featured on Forbes list of top titan Africans of the year. The acclaimed platform listed her as one of the 40 most powerful African celebrities of the year.
We could go on and on to talk about Angelique Kidjo’s achievements. But to do that, we’d certainly have to be here for a long long time to cover them all. The singer’s voice has reached far and wide, transcended borders, and touched many lives. We can say that Africa’s premier diva has done more than sing a couple of great songs. She has definitely played a huge role in spotlighting African music and making it what it is today.
Do you have a favorite Angelique Kidjo song? Let us know in our comment section!