Angélique Kidjo on her new album “« Hope !! »”
She stuck to the two exclamation points that accompany the title of her new album, “Hope!!”. This hope that has never left Angélique Kidjo, who appeared on French stages in the early 1990s and has since become the queen of world music. Kidjo has had fun breaking down barriers, going from soul to classical to rock, covering Talking Heads with African instruments, singing with artists like Joss Stone and Salif Keita.
For her seventeenth album, she has enlisted people she loves: Florent Pagny, Pharrell Williams, Dadju, Nile Rodgers, Fally Ipupa, and Charlie Wilson. Kidjo celebrates the diversity of cultures, always keeping in mind that her voice matters. She believes that tomorrow will be better. Having fled dictatorship in Benin, experienced 1980s France, and now living in Trump’s America, her numerous accolades are a tool for spreading the message that not all is lost.
Angélique Kidjo on her childhood music experience in Benin
At home, we did a lot of sports and sang all the time. We listened to country music, but also a lot of contemporary African music. What struck me the most was the call to prayer from the mosque next door. It woke me up every morning at 5 o’clock, and that stuck with me.
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We laughed a lot, my father nicknamed me “Why, when, and how” because I always asked questions. Our home was always open to everyone, always full of food and drink. My brothers played music. That was before the 1972 communist dictatorship, when speech was still free.
(Short Context: Angélique Kidjo, a renowned world music artist, shares her musical journey from childhood in Benin to becoming an international icon. Reflecting on her upbringing and early career, she highlights the challenges and triumphs she faced.)
(Fact Check: Angélique Kidjo is known for her versatile music style, blending genres and collaborating with artists from different backgrounds. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her contribution to world music.)
