Angélique Kidjo

Angélique Kidjo, an artist originally from Benin, has been one of the leading figures of world music for more than thirty years. Her music, known for its energy and infectious joy, has earned her numerous distinctions, including the 2023 Polar Music Prize, several Grammy Awards (including Best Global Music Album for Mother Nature in 2021), and a place on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people.

Her album HOPE!!, the 20? album of her career, extends her collaborative approach with artists from different generations and musical styles. It features collaborations with Nile Rodgers, Diane Warren, PJ Morton, The Cavemen and the Soweto Gospel Choir, among others.

Largely produced by Nigerian musician Shizzi and recorded between Paris and Los Angeles, the album blends several musical influences and highlights Kidjo's powerful voice and artistic presence. Inspired by values such as resilience, compassion and determination, the album conveys a message of hope and solidarity in a troubled world. Several songs pay tribute to her family, notably her mother, whose strength and optimism profoundly shaped her life.

Alongside her musical career, Angélique Kidjo is committed to humanitarian causes: she founded the Batonga Foundation for the education of young girls in Africa and is a UNICEF and Oxfam Goodwill Ambassador. Her career thus combines music, social commitment and the promotion of Africa's image in the world.

Recent projects around the album include new collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Diamond Platnumz, Ayra Starr, Davido, Dadju and Fally Ipupa, as well as a symphonic version of Jerusalema performed at the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris in 2024 and nominated for the 2026 Grammy Awards.