Schedule
Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 7:20 pm (Main Stage)
In welcoming Angelique Kidjo to our beautiful stage in the mountains, we are proudly hosting a true global superstar. From her West African roots in Benin to musical languages and traditions around the globe, Angelique’s music is a testament to her curiosity, inclusivity and massive talent as a vocalist and performer. But more, she is a nurturer, not only of her own, simmering creativity, but also the ideas of young artists and performers who look to her for inspiration.
Her collaborative efforts range from work with young African artists who span numerous genres — Afrobeat, Afro-pop, dancehall, hip-hop, and alt-R&B — to artists are diverse as Roy Hargrove, Jr., Dave Matthews, Ibrahim Maalouf, Dianne Reeves and John Legend. Her extraordinary takes on the music of salsa legend, Celia Cruz, and Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, are remarkable for the invigoration of familiar songs with her unique, African-inflected rhythms, layered vocals and profound respect for the source material. The album, Celia, earned Angelique a Grammy in 2019 (she is a five-time winner.)
Her 2020 album, Mother Nature, and its title track reflect Angelique’s concerns for the environment, a global problem we all share. “This album is a love letter to Mother Earth and all the values we hold dear: truth, trust, love, connection,” she said.
That sense of global connectivity extends to her work as a goodwill ambassador for OXFAM and UNICEF, as well as the considerable efforts she puts into her own charitable foundation, Batonga, which is dedicated to supporting the education of young girls in West Africa.
Angelique is the embodiment of our oneness, no matter our background, country, culture, or the language we might speak.
“For our own survival, we need to recognize the humanity that we all share and learn how to live together. There’s just no other way.”