Beninese international singer Angélique Kidjo won the award for Best World Music Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards on Sunday 3 April. This fifth coronation of the diva in Las Vegas in the United States further establishes her status as a giant of the African continent.
At the 64th Grammy Awards, Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo was crowned winner of the Best World Music Album category for her musical project “Mother Nature” released on 18 June 2021. A fifth Grammy award for the star. The 61-year-old artist had already been nominated for several Grammy Awards. Indeed, it had won the trophy in 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2020. She is thus among the best of her generation who promote Beninese and African culture throughout the world. Angelique became the only African artist to win five Grammy Awards.
Satisfaction
Also with “Mother Nature”, Angélique Kidjo won her fourth Grammy in the “Global Music” category alongside Nigerian stars Wizkid and Femi Kuti. “ The last time I won, I said that young African musicians would conquer the world. And to all the fans, music lovers, you are always there when we need you. When you listen, we move forward. We are all Africans “she declared. With this award, Ms Kidjo leaves behind “Made In Lagos (Deluxe)” by Wizkid, “Legacy+” by Femi Kuti & Made Kuti. This is the Beninese diva’s first album since 2014, in which she celebrated the role of women.
The album « Mother Nature»
Released in June 2021, ‘Mother Nature’ is an album of 13 songs. “This album is a love letter to Mother, Earth and all the values we hold dear: truth, trust, love, connection. If there is anything the pandemic has taught us, it is that we are all part of the same ecosystem; this planet is all we have,” wrote Angelique Kidjo on her Facebook page when the album was announced. The star collaborated on this album with other artists such as Zeynab, Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Sampa the Great, EarthGang etc.
Discovering the star
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo was born on 14 July 1960 in Ouidah, Republic of Benin. She is a singer, composer, jazz musician, writer, choreographer, actress, singer-songwriter… She was born from a Yoruba mother and a Fon father. The diva grew up listening to traditional Beninese music, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, James Brown, Manu Dibango, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Osibisa and Santana. At the age of six, Angélique performed with her mother’s theatre group, giving her an early appreciation of traditional music and dance. Among her numerous hits are songs such as Agolo, We We, Adouma, Wombo Lombo, Afirika, Batonga…
