Angélique Kidjo

Angélique Kidjo [ ɑʒelik kidʒo ] (born 14 July 1960 in Ouidah, Benin ) is a Beninese - French musician, choreographer, singer, composer and song poet.

Life

Angélique Kidjo was raised by her two grandmothers and her mother. From her mother, who led a theater in Benin, she learned early the singing and dancing. Her father was very interested in music and brought records from around the world to take home. He also showed her the first chords on the banjo. Also Angélique Kidjos older brothers who played in a band, exerted great musical influence on her. Around 1982 she emigrated to France, because they saw themselves threatened by the then communist government with prison because she sang no state-carrying songs.

In Paris, she studied music and briefly also law because they wanted to stand up for human rights. She gave the law degree soon again in order to devote himself entirely to music. She became known for world music with different musical influences, including music from their homeland of Benin, Afro-pop, R & B, jazz but also Latin American and Afro- Caribbean music. A considerable part of her songs she sings in the languages ​​spoken in their home country languages ​​Fon and Yoruba, also she sings in English and French.

Kidjo also made ​​by her, further developed from traditional dances, dance performances attracted attention, which play an important role in their music videos. Their first album she recorded in 1989, which was by chance Chris Blackwell into the hands of the published CD of his record company Iceland Records.

After a few tours with Jasper van't Hof's Pili Pili and the following three studio albums " Jakko " (1987), "Be in Two Minds " (1988), produced by the dissident drummer Marlon Klein, and "Hotel Babo " (1990) was in 1994 with their title " Agolo " (# 57 in Germany ) known internationally. In 1995 she was in the category "Best Music Video" and 1999 and 2003 in the category "Best World Music Album " Grammy nomination.

Their album " Djin Djin " (2007), among others, participated in the Joss Stone, Alicia Keys and Peter Gabriel as a guest singer, was produced by Tony Visconti.

Among their most formative musical influences include, inter alia, Jimi Hendrix and Miriam Makeba.

On 25 July 2002 she was appointed international UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. For several years she Global Campaigner she was particularly active in the development aid organization Oxfam, in their campaigns Make Trade Fair and Control Arms.

In 2011 she was awarded the Champions of Earth Award.

Since the mid- 1990s, Angélique Kidjo lives in New York.

Discography

• Pretty ( only in Africa published)
• 1990: Parakou
• 1991: Logozo
• 1994: Ayé
• 1996: Fifa
• 1998: Oremi
• 2001: Keep On Moving: The Best Of Angélique Kidjo
• 2002: Black Ivory Soul ( With a guest appearance by Dave Matthews)
• 2004; Oyaya!
• 2007: Djin Djin ( With guest appearances, among others, Joss Stone, Alicia Keys and Peter Gabriel )
• 2010: Õÿö

Awards