Kidjo was born in Ouidah, Benin. Her father is Fon from Ouidah and her mother is Yoruba . She grew up listening to James Brown, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, and Santana.
By the time she was six, Kidjo was performing with her mother's theatre troupe, giving her an early appreciation for traditional music and dance. She started singing in her school band Les Sphinx and found success as a teenager with her adaptation of Miriam Makeba's "Les Trois Z" which played on national radio. She recorded the album Pretty with the Camerounese producer Ekambi Brilliant and her brother Oscar. It featured the songs Ninive, Gbe Agossi and a tribute to the singer Bella Bellow, one of her role models. The success of the album allowed her to tour all over West Africa. Continuing political conflicts in Benin prevented her from being an independent artist in her own country and led her to relocate to Paris in 1982.
While working various day jobs to pay for her tuition, Angelique studied music at the CIM, a reputable Jazz school in Paris where she met and married musician and producer Jean Hebrail with whom she has composed most of her music. She started out as a backup singer in local bands. In 1985, she became the front singer of the known Euro-African jazz/rock band Jasper van't Hof's Pili Pili. Three Pili Pili studio albums followed: Jakko(1987) Be In Two Minds (1988, produced by Marlon Klein) and Hotel Babo (1990). By the end of the 1980s, she had become one of the most popular live performers in Paris and recorded a solo album called Parakou for the Open Jazz Label.
She was then discovered in Paris by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell who signed her in 1991. She recorded four albums for Island until Chris Blackwell's departure from the label. In 2000 she was signed in New York by Columbia Records for which she recorded two albums.
Her musical influences include the Afropop, Caribbean zouk, Congolese rumba, jazz, gospel, and Latin styles; as well as her childhood idols Bella Bellow, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Miriam Makeba and Carlos Santana.
She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2002. With UNICEF, she has traveled to many countries in Africa. Reports on her visits can be found on the UNICEF site. Kidjo founded The Batonga Foundation which gives girls a secondary school and higher education so they can take the lead in changing Africa. The foundation is doing this by granting scholarships, building secondary schools, increasing enrollment, improving teaching standards, providing school supplies, supporting mentor programs, exploring alternative education models and advocating for community awareness of the value of education for girls.
She has campaigned for Oxfam at the 2005 Hong Kong WTO meeting, for the their Fair Trade Campaign and travelled with them in North Kenya and at the border of Darfur and Chad with a group of women leaders in 2007 and contributed to the video for the In My Name Campaign with Will I Am from The Black Eyed Peas. She has hosted the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in Alexandria, Egypt on November 26th, 2007 and on November 15th, 2008
Afirika
Angélique Kidjo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Min wè na fon bo mon dèkpè ton
Min déssou sin alo min wè dé
Mindé ma nan lin dagbé min ton
Yé fon bo do yanyan ton do wè
Africa min bi sé ton wè
Min nou min gbè yanyan ton dido
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika, Maman Afirika
Min dé lè tin bo dji djan yin
Bomin dé lè fon do nou wa wè
Yénan don nou towé gblé lo
Yéman do nou dé wa wè nin yon
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika, Maman Afirika
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika, Maman Afirika
Nishè o, nishèo, nishèo, nishèo, nishèo
Nishè o, nishèo, nishèo, nishèo, nishèo
Min bi fon do africa gblé lo
Min wè na fon bo mon dèkpè ton
Min déssou sin alo min wè dé
Mindé ma nan lin dagbé min ton
Yé fon bo do yanyan ton do wè
Africa min bi sé ton wè
Min nou min gbè yanyan ton dido
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika
Maman Afirika
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika
Maman Afirika
The song "Afirika" by Angélique Kidjo is a celebration of the African continent and its people. The lyrics are in Fon, a language spoken in Benin, Togo, and Nigeria. The first verse speaks of the singer's love for Africa, as she looks out at the land with the deep feeling of connection. She sees the people, their strength, and their struggles.
The chorus is an invocation to Mother Africa, "Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika." "Ashè" is a Yoruba word used to express approval or blessing, and "Maman" means mother. Kidjo sees Africa as a nurturing mother who has given her so much, and who continues to inspire her.
The second verse speaks of the interconnectedness of the African people. Kidjo recognizes that they have been separated and oppressed, yet there is still a sense of unity and solidarity in their struggles. The repetition of the phrase "nishè o" is a traditional call-and-response used in Fon music.
Overall, "Afirika" is a joyful and uplifting song that celebrates the beauty and resilience of Africa and its people. Kidjo uses her platform as a renowned musician to promote the importance of African culture and the need for unity and strength within the community.
Line by Line Meaning
Min bi fon do africa gblé lo
I see the beauty of Africa in its greenery
Min wè na fon bo mon dèkpè ton
I see the greatness of Africa in its people
Min déssou sin alo min wè dé
I see the power of Africa in its music
Mindé ma nan lin dagbé min ton
I see the spirit of Africa in its dance
Yé fon bo do yanyan ton do wè
The beauty of Africa is in everything I see
Africa min bi sé ton wè
I truly see Africa
Min nou min gbè yanyan ton dido
I am one with everything I see in Africa
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika, Maman Afirika
Africa is my mother and I honor her
Min dé lè tin bo dji djan yin
I hear the call of my ancestors
Bomin dé lè fon do nou wa wè
Their footsteps guide us
Yénan don nou towé gblé lo
Together we celebrate Africa’s beauty
Yéman do nou dé wa wè nin yon
United we see Africa as one
Nishè o, nishèo, nishèo, nishèo, nishèo
The rhythm of Africa beats in my heart
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika, Maman Afirika
Africa is my mother and I honor her
Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika, Maman Afirika
Africa is my mother and I honor her
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dirtybrands8902
To see all these award ceremony audience members up and dancing really got to me. She's a marvel!
@luuadaghubu7320
Oh my word, Mama Angelique is such a vibe...she owned the performance and the audience hands down ♥️♥️♥️💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏿🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇💐💐💐💐
@vanillabee2382
She has remained true to her roots, love her as a fellow daughter of the soil!!!!!
@AndreinaGarban
The power of a voice... building a bridge! And she owned the audience! What a performance! Angelique is a wonderful ambassador of humanity and joy!
@patgrey6125
A petite woman with a voice as big as the seas. She's really such a great performer and i've yet to see her disappoint! A great ambassador for Africa! She's really carried that torch beautifully!
@Sarahtousthra
I'm more than proud to belong to AFRICA❤❤ LOVE FROM MOROCCO
@eilisemurray2206
I wish I could meet Angelique kidjo because she is my favorite singer and I really love her music. I have been to 2 of her concerts in Oakland California with my dad before he passed away march 26th 2012. Her music reminds me of my dad
@maremdouk
❤ she is an amazing artist. I was fortunate to get my daughter to meet her. She radiates energy, and pure love!
@mosaic_fit
1:20 the little boy nailed it. I liked it 😊😊
@tosinkawona5175
This woman is a wonderful legend. I love her dearly