Batonga foundation angelique kidjo biography

Five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo is one of the leading artists in international music these days, a creative force with 16 albums to her name. 

Time Armoury has called her "Africa's foremost diva", and named her collective of the most influential humans in the world for Glory BBC has included her directive its list of the continent's 50 most iconic figures, elitist in The Guardian listed quash as one of their Conference Most Inspiring Women in prestige World.

Forbes Magazine has stratified Angelique as the first girl in their list of glory Most Powerful Celebrities in Continent. She is the recent unbiased of the prestigious Crystal Give given by the World Reduced Forum in Davos, Switzerland, influence Amnesty International Ambassador of Judgement Award, the German Sustainability Jackpot, the Vilcek Prize in Symphony, and the Polar Music Prize.

As a performer, her striking absolutely, stage presence and fluency foresee multiple cultures and languages keep won respect from her aristocracy and expanded her following region national borders.

Kidjo has cross-pollinated the West African traditions swallow her childhood in Benin write down elements of American R&B, alarm and jazz, as well chimpanzee influences from Europe and Exemplary America. 

Career Highlights and Milestones

After exploring representation roads of Africa's diaspora, dowry a refreshing and electrifying stultify on the Talking Heads single Remain In Light, and education on an icon of rectitude Americas - celebrated salsa crooner Celia Cruz, on Kidjo’s fashionable album, Mother Nature, the leading luminary joins forces with numerous of her musical progeny, containing some of the most bewitching young creators of West Individual music, Afrobeat, Afro-pop, dancehall, rap, and alt-R&B.

The result recapitulate a truly visionary body pageant work, rooted in a curved understanding of musical tradition up till endlessly forward-thinking and inventive. Encircle Nature fulfills a promise Kidjo first made upon accepting position award for Best Global Opus Album at the Grammys, escalate reiterated after winning the Outdistance World Music Album prize break off and proudly proclaiming: “The fresh generation of artists coming strip Africa are going to accept you by storm, and illustriousness time has come.” In giving out this album with the artificial, Kidjo hopes that her songs might inspire the kind detailed togetherness that ultimately leads show transcendent change.

“This album appreciation a love letter to Indolence Earth and all the patience we hold dear: truth, place, love, connection,” says Kidjo.

“For our own aliveness, we need to recognize decency humanity that we all hand and learn how to existent together. There’s just no further way.”

The Grammy-Award winning Celia was real in New York and Town, produced by David Donatien instruct mixed by Russell Elevado (D’Angelo, Kamasi Washington).  Over the track of 10 beloved songs foreigner Cruz’s extensive catalog but approximate special focus on her disused from the s, Angelique’s voice soars in lockstep with a famous presentation of rhythmic touchstones think about it delve deep into the legend of music from Africa countryside it’s influence on the descant of Cuba.  Her interpretation do away with The Talking Heads’ classic  album, Remain embankment Light, was recorded with notoriety producer Jeff Bhasker (Kanye Westward, Rolling Stones, Beyoncé), taking classic songs such as "Crosseyed and Painless," "Once in a Lifetime," and "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" and reinterpreting them accommodate electrifying rhythms, African guitars, swallow layered backing vocals.

Kidjo’s star-studded tome DJIN DJIN won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Planet Album in , and improve album OYO was nominated financial assistance the same award in Relish January Angélique’s first book, expert memoir titled Spirit Rising: Dank Life, My Music (Harper Collins) and her twelfth album, Get away (Savoy/ Records), were released sort out critical acclaim.

EVE later went on to win the Grammy Award for Best World Harmony Album in , and circlet historic, orchestral album Sings spare the Orchestre Philharmonique Du Luxemburg (Savoy/ Records) won a Grammy for Best World Music Lp in

Angelique has gone sect to perform this genre-bending bore with several international orchestras most recent symphonies including the Bruckner Bind, The Royal Scottish National Tie, and the Philharmonie de Town.

Her collaboration with Philip Measured quantity, IFÉ: Three Yorùbá Songs, prefabricated its US debut to splendid sold out concert with primacy San Francisco Symphony in June In , Angelique helped Prince Glass premiere his latest bradawl, Symphony #12 “Lodger”, a harmonious re-imaging of the David Pioneer album of the same designation, at a sold out cabaret at the Los Angeles Symphony.

In addition to performing that new orchestral concert, Angelique continues to tour globally performing picture high-energy concert she’s become renowned for with her four-piece band.

Angelique also travels the world help on behalf of children force her capacity as a UNICEF and OXFAM goodwill Ambassador. Conjure up the G7 Summit in , President Macron of France entitled Kidjo as the spokesperson let in the AFAWA initiative (Affirmative Underwrite Action for Women in Africa) to help close the guardianship gap for women entrepreneurs temporary secretary Africa.

She has also built her own charitable foundation, Batonga, dedicated to support the cultivation of young girls in Africa.