A Beninese singer who is known for her Fon-language dance music, and percussive rhythms. After achieving international success with her album Logozo, West African singer Angelique kidjo was a household name in world music. She combines her multilingual fusions of Afrobeat and pop with jazz, reggae and other African traditions with collaborators from Philip Glass and Dr. John to Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys and Branford Marsalis. Kidjo left her home in Benin to go to Paris and recorded several critically acclaimed albums with Island Records in the s. She then embarked on an ambitious trilogy exploring African music&#;s influence across the Americas, including Brazilian, Latin, and gospel. Her career has been marked by her adventurous spirit and collaborative nature. A deep-rooted sense her Beninese heritage and West African heritage have remained a constant in all her recordings, including the star-studded Djin Djin and Eve , which both earned her Grammy Awards. Kidjo is a veteran of major festivals, concert halls, clubs and other stages all over the globe. She has been recognized for her creativity and willingness to challenge the norm. She is fluent in English, French, Yoruba and
Angelique Kidjo Biography
—
Vocalist, songwriter
Kidjo, Angelique, photograph.
A powerful singer and tireless performer, Angelique Kidjo has been one of the most successful performers to emerge on world music stages in the s and s. Her music not only draws from African traditions but also interprets the ways those traditions developed after Africans were seized and taken to the New World. Thus elements of American soul, funk, rap, and jazz, Brazilian samba, Jamaican reggae, and Cuban and Puerto Rican salsa all show up on her recordings, along with various African styles. Early in her career she told Guardian reporter Jonathan Romney that "my records sound like dance music because that's the only way for Europeans to approach something they don't know," and as she evolved into one of the international music scene's most popular concert attractions, she accumulated a large fan base that happily came on stage and danced with her.
Kidjo is a native of Benin, on Africa's Atlantic coast adjacent to Nigeria; the first of her eight languages was Fon. She was born in the coastal city of Ouidah on July 14, , to government postal official Franck Kidjo (an enthusiastic ph
Logozo encouraged listeners to challenge and change their attitudes towards Africa and its music
At the Grammy Awards, Angélique Kidjo did something rather unexpected.
In accepting her award for the Best World Music Album, she dedicated the gong to fellow category contender, Nigerian star Burna Boy, and used her speech to point to the wave of exciting new African artists storming into the mainstream.
Championing the depth of talent from her home continent, and reconnecting humanity with a shared musical culture, have been part of a campaign Kidjo has led for over three decades.
LoadingHear Logozo on Classic Albums above:
"In most of the countries in Africa, people don't go that much crazy [about] music and the singing," she explained to RN's The Music Show in
"Because you have singing for every kind of thing that happened to you. And people don't find it curious to find somebody walking in the street singing alone. Because it's just like talking to each other.
"For me, singing is like a normal thing for me to hear every day. So, I think that the way I incorporate the music in my daily life is like my breath.
"I believ
LOGOZO
Angelique Kidjo's album titled Logozo is a brilliant showcase of her unique style and artistic vision. Released in , the album features an eclectic mix of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and rhythms from her native Benin. The lyrics of the songs are a powerful reflection of Angelique's experiences growing up in Africa and her deep connection to her heritage. The album's title track, "Logozo," is a perfect example of her ability to blend traditional African music with modern pop and rock influences. With Logozo, Angelique Kidjo firmly established herself as one of the most dynamic and innovative artists of her generation, and a true pioneer of African music on the global stage.
Afro-funk, reggae, samba, salsa, gospel, jazz, Zairean rhumba, zouk, and makossa are combined through the music of soulful Benin-born, Paris-based vocalist Angélique Kidjo.
Biographies you may also like
Kavita kundra biography of michael jackson Michael Jackson’s life seemed an exciting journey with numerous ups and downs and we’ve tried to sum up his biography in just 20 significance. Birth on 29 th August Missing: kavita kundra.
Baba sali biography of abraham Baba Sali has become legendary to Moroccan Jews and is known as the “Praying Father” of the Moroccan Jewish community, who made Aliyah to Israel in the middle of the twentieth century. Baba Sali was part of a lineage of great .
Biography of max ehrmann go placidly Max Ehrmann ( - ) was an attorney, businessman, and writer from Terre Haute, Indiana. The son of German immigrants, he attended Harvard, obtained a degree in law, and worked in .
Selda alkor biography of martin Read all about Selda Alkor with TV Guide's exclusive biography including their list of awards, celeb facts and more at TV g: martin.
Yordanka kuzmanova biography templates A short bio is a concise and informative summary of your professional background, accomplishments, and personal interests. It’s an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to Missing: yordanka kuzmanova.
Jon brower minnoch biography of abraham Biography of Jon Brower Minnoch. Jon Brower Minnoch was born on September 29, , and he would later become known as the heaviest man ever recorded. His life was Missing: abraham.
Honnappa bhagavathar biography of barack obama From riveting biographies to texts covering his presidency, we bring you a definitive guide to the best books on Barack g: honnappa bhagavathar.