Angélique Kidjo

She is the ‘Mama,’ the multi-Grammy Award-winning artist who remains in tune with the times. Kidjo was born on 14 July 1960 in Ouidah, in what is now Benin, into a very artistic family, with a mother who was a choreographer, a father who loved the banjo and photography, and brothers who formed an orchestra. She blends African sounds with jazz, funk and pop, creating a committed and universal sound. From her beginnings in Africa to the rise of her career in Paris and her acclaim in the United States, she has become a global star. Her iconic albums, Logozo, Djin Djin and Mother Nature, showcase her talent and humanist commitment. She has collaborated with icons like Alicia Keys, Yemi Alade and Tina Turner. A tireless activist, she defends children's rights and access to education. A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2002, she established the Batonga Foundation in Washington in 2006 to support girls' education. Considered one of the greatest voices in contemporary African music, she was nominated once again for a Grammy Award in the ‘Best Global Music Performance’ category for her song Sunlight to my Soul (2024).