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
Iwoya
Angélique Kidjo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't have to be old to be wise
A bird doesn't wait 'til it dies to fly
Emptiness is not for me
Fill me up and spill over me
Angélique Kidjo:
Titila ela temi yo
Mon fé dada foun éda mio
Fon fé ki ayé temin koda
Dave:
See your soul, open your eyes
From inside, your soul comes shining
Angélique:
Mon ria émi ninou i fè
I fè foua nami pelou ayo
Dave:
You don't have to be old to be wise
Don't you hear the baby crying
Both:
Iwoya, Iwoya, Iwoya
Iwoya, Iwoya, Iwoya
Angélique:
???
Both:
You don't have to be old to be wise
A bird doesn't wait 'til it dies to fly
And emptiness is not for me
Fill me up, fill me up, spill over me
Iwoya, Iwoya, Iwoya
Iwoya, Iwoya, Iwoya
...
The lyrics of "Iwoya" by Angélique Kidjo and Dave Matthews evoke the idea that wisdom is not limited to old age and that one can find fulfillment and purpose in life by being present in the moment and embracing one's soul. The song urges the listener to be like a bird that doesn't wait until it's too late to fly, to not wait for opportune moments to exist fully and without restraint. The lyrics reflect a desire to be filled with life, energy, and joy, to be like an overflowing cup, an abundance in all aspects of life.
The song is primarily sung in Yoruba, a language spoken in West Africa, and English. It features elements of African and rock music, blending the sounds and cultures to create a unique musical experience. The lyrics are layered with meanings, showcasing the beauty of language and culture.
One interesting fact about "Iwoya" is that it was released in 1991 and was a hit in France, where it reached the top of the charts. Angélique Kidjo is a multi-award-winning Beninese singer, and this song has become one of her most popular tracks. Additionally, Dave Matthews is an American singer-songwriter who has collaborated with Kidjo on several occasions. The cultural fusion of Yoruba and English lyrics alongside the blend of African and rock music in a French context highlights the universality of music.
Some other interesting facts about the song include that the lyrics allude to the Yoruba deity Oya, goddess of change and power, and the term "Iwoya" means "chariots of fire" or "spirited horses." The song features an upbeat, danceable rhythm that is typical of Kidjo's work, and her powerful and soulful voice elevates the emotional impact of the lyrics. The combination of Dave Matthews' rock voice and Kidjo's African-inspired sound creates a unique blend of musical styles.
Chords: Unfortunately, there is no information available on the chords for this song.
Line by Line Meaning
Titila ela temi yo
My heart is beating fast
Lon dan ninou ayé pelou oyaya
In this world of chaos, there is hope
Mon fé dada foun éda mio
I believe in myself and my destiny
Fon fé ki ayé temin koda
I know that the world is full of surprises
Mon ria émi ninou i fè
I am laughing inside because of happiness
I fè foua nami pelou ayo
My happiness overflows and spreads around me
Iwoya, Iwoya, Iwoya
Unknown
Don't you hear the baby crying
Listen to the cries of the innocent
You don't have to be old to be wise
Wisdom comes from experience, not age
A bird doesn't wait 'til it dies to fly
Seize every opportunity and don't wait for the perfect moment
Emptiness is not for me
I refuse to live a meaningless life
Fill me up, fill me up, spill over me
I want to be filled with all the good things life has to offer
Iwoya, Iwoya, Iwoya
Unknown
Contributed by Mateo H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kwame Atoapoma Oteanankanduro
on Summertime
Awesome! Haa, I want the lyrics in the language she sang in.