Angélique Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Kpasseloko Manta Zogbin Kidjo (born on July 14, 1960), widely recognized as Angelique Kidjo, is an accomplished Beninese-American musician and Grammy Award winner. Renowned for her contributions to African music, she is a celebrated singer, songwriter, actress, and a dedicated advocate for civil rights.

Angelique Kidjo

Early Life and Education

Angelique Kidjo was born into a large family of nine in Ouidah, Benin, on July 14, 1960. She has a brother named Oscar Kidjo.

Background

Her mother, Yvonne Kidjo, is Yoruba, and her father, Franck Kidjo, is of Fon descent. Fluent in French, English, Fon, and Yoruba, Kidjo's diverse linguistic abilities reflect her rich heritage. Raised by a mother who was a dancer and theatrical director and a father who was a musician, Kidjo's exposure to music began at a young age, performing with her mother's theater company. She joined Les Sphinx band in high school and later her brother's rock rhythm and blues band.

Career Beginnings

Kidjo gained recognition as a teenager with her cover of Miriam Makeba's "Les Trois Z." Influenced by artists like Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Fela Kuti, and James Brown, Kidjo's passion for music grew.

Career Journey

Due to political unrest in Benin, Kidjo moved to Paris in 1983, where she initially worked in local bands as a backup singer. In 1985, she became the lead singer for Jasper Van’t Hof’s Euro-African jazz/rock group Pili Pili, releasing albums like "Jakko" (1987), "Be In Two Minds" (1988), and "Hotel Babo" (1989). She also studied music at CIM, a renowned jazz school.

In 1988, Kidjo released her debut album, "Pretty," touring West Africa. In the 1990s, she recorded the solo album "Parakou" and signed with Island Records in 1991, producing four albums before Chris Blackwell's departure.

Record Label

Columbia Records signed Kidjo in New York in 2000, leading to the release of two albums. She continued to release successful albums and authored her first book, "Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music," in 2014. Additionally, she published a book titled "La voix est le miroir de l’ame."

Discography

Angelique Kidjo's notable songs include:

Pretty, 1981

Parakou, 1989

Logozo, 1991

Aye, 1994

Fifa, 1996

Oremi, 1998

Black Ivory Soul, 2002

Oyaya, 2004

Djin Djin, 2007

Oyo, 2010

Spirit Rising, 2012

Eve, 2014

Sings with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestre philharmonique du Luxembourg), 2015

Remain in Light, 2018

Celia, 2019.

The Batonga Foundation

Angelique Kidjo is an activist dedicated to women and girls' education, co-founding The Batonga Foundation. Established in 2006, it focuses on empowering young women in Benin, supporting their education from elementary to postsecondary levels. The foundation provides resources, mentor programs, scholarships, builds schools, and raises awareness of girls' education.

Personal Life

In Paris, Kidjo met Jean Hébrail, a French producer and musician, marrying in 1987. Their daughter, Naima Hebrail Kidjo, born in 1993, is an actress and author, cited by Kidjo as her main inspiration.

Net Worth

Angelique Kidjo, the singer, songwriter, and activist, has a net worth of US$5 million.

Social Media Handle 

Instagram: @angeliquekidjo