Angélique Kidjo

Shows

Episodes

  1. Angélique Kidjo

    09/16/2023

    Angélique Kidjo

    Angélique Kidjo, often described as "the queen of African music", has recorded fifteen albums, worked with a diverse array of musical collaborators from Burna Boy and Alcia Keys to Philip Glass and Peter Gabriel, and won five Grammy Awards. In 2023 she was the recipient of the Polar Prize, regarded as one of the world’s prestigious musical awards. Born under French colonial rule in 1960 in Dahomey, Angelique first started singing professionally as a teenager. Amid violent political upheavals in the 1980s, she fled her country, which had been renamed Benin, and became an exile in Paris. It was there that she was discovered by legendary Island Record boss Chris Blackwell, who signed her to his label and launched her three decade career. Angélique Kidjo tells John Wilson about the early influence of her mother who ran a musical theatre company in her hometown, and encouraged her to first take to the stage at the age of six. Becoming a professional singer in her teens, she recalls how she was inspired by African musicians including Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela. She chooses the American composer Philip Glass as another huge influence, having worked with him on Symphony 12, Glass’s reinterpretation of David Bowie’s Lodger album. Angélique also discusses her work with David Byrne and why she choose to record her own version of Remain In Light, the 1980 album by Byrne’s band Talking Heads. Producer: Edwina Pitman

    44 min
  2. Sampa the Great - Let Me Be Great (feat. Angélique Kidjo)

    12/21/2022

    Sampa the Great - Let Me Be Great (feat. Angélique Kidjo)

    Sampa The Great is a songwriter, rapper, and singer from Zambia. She was based in Australia for years, but came back to Zambia in 2020, shortly before the pandemic hit. When she couldn’t travel, she decided to make her next album there in Lusaka. The album is called As Above, So Below, and it was produced by Mag44. In this episode, Sampa the Great and Mag44 break down the closing song "Let Me Be Great," which features vocals from legendary West African singer Angélique Kidjo, winner of 5 Grammys and one of TIME’s Most Influential People. I got to speak to Angélique Kidjo in her studio in Paris, and I spoke to Sampa the Great and Mag44 in Lusaka. Together, the three of them tell the story of how they made "Let Me Be Great." For more, visit songexploder.net/sampa-the-great.

    28 min
  3. Angelique Kidjo: Africa’s Premier Diva

    11/09/2021

    Angelique Kidjo: Africa’s Premier Diva

    According to Time Magazine, singer Angelique Kidjo is “Africa’s premier diva.” Kidjo started out singing traditional music in her native Benin, West Africa when she was a teenager. In 1983, she escaped the conflict-riddled Benin for Paris, where she studied music and eventually signed her first record deal with Island Records. Kidjo has since released 16 albums and won four World Music Grammys. Her latest album, Mother Nature, was released in June and features young African musicians like Sampa the Great and Burna Boy. On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Angelique Kidjo about the nature of African rhythm and why it can confuse Western musicians. She also explains how she lets her songs dictate what language her lyrics should be in, and how she managed to escape her home country despite being a recognizable national pop star. Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecord You can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com Check out our favorite Angelique Kidjo songs HERE. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    50 min
  4. Black Music Month QLS Classic: Angélique Kidjo

    06/16/2024

    Black Music Month QLS Classic: Angélique Kidjo

    Travel back to our conversation with five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo and her down with team Supreme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 49m
  5. Why joy is a state of mind | Angélique Kidjo and Femi Oke

    12/16/2022

    Why joy is a state of mind | Angélique Kidjo and Femi Oke

    With infectious energy, singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo ties together the threads of her legendary career as a creative force and global activist. In conversation with journalist Femi Oke, she discusses how joy powers her music (and sings an incredible impromptu song), details her work spreading educational opportunities to women and girls across Africa and shares her belief that everybody has the power to tap into their potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  6. Special report: Unrest in Baghdad

    08/30/2022

    Special report: Unrest in Baghdad

    Iraq’s capital city has seen violent protests that left at least 21 dead after weeks of tensions. The spark was ignited after influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced on Twitter that he was quitting politics for good. This comes after his supporters were unable to form a government, despite winning the most seats in parliament last year. Al-Sadr’s announcement sent a shockwave through Baghdad and his loyalists stormed the so-called Green Zone, prompting al-Sadr to apologize to the nation for the violence and urged protesters to go home. Correspondent Ben Wedeman has the latest. For more on the unrest, and to explain the background, Sara speaks with Feisal Amin al-Istrabadi, who as Iraq’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations had firsthand experience of Iraqi politics and diplomacy.  Also on today's show: Craig Whitlock, author of The Afghanistan Papers, which examines how that country's war was sold -- and mis-sold -- to the public; Jason Reid, author of Rise of the Black Quarterback; Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans and Grammy Award-winning musician Angelique Kidjo on the 10th anniversary of the Global Citizen Festival. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    57 min
  7. Rufus Wainwright (the A-Side)

    11/11/2014

    Rufus Wainwright (the A-Side)

    Singer-songwriter-composer Rufus Wainwright talks about his breakthrough 2003 album, ‘Want One’. Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side. In the A-side, Rufus talks to John Wilson. The son of folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus began playing the piano at the age of 6 and touring at 13. Before he had even reached voting age, he had been nominated for Best Original Song and Most Promising Male Vocalist awards. But it would be another 14 years before he released the album that has been variously described as "obscenely lush"... a "gorgeous meditation on emotional displacement" and "a three-hankie weepie". The first part of what was intended to be a double album, Want One is full of songs about love, loss, family, addiction and popular culture, including 'I Don't Know What It Is', 'Go Or Go Ahead' and 'Dinner At Eight'. Not only does he play exclusive versions of some of these songs, in a frank and no-punches-pulled interview, Rufus also reveals what part drugs, sex, near-death experiences and extended arguments with his father played in the making of this remarkable album In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions. Producer: Paul Kobrak First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

    27 min
  8. Angélique Kidjo (the B-Side)

    11/25/2014

    Angélique Kidjo (the B-Side)

    Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Angélique Kidjo questions about her 1994 breakthrough album, 'Ayé'. With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London. Angélique also performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the album. Producer: Clare Walker First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

    27 min
  9. Amanpour: Amy Walter, Jack Saul, Dr. Helene Gayle and Angélique Kidjo

    05/23/2020

    Amanpour: Amy Walter, Jack Saul, Dr. Helene Gayle and Angélique Kidjo

    As America feels the toll of the coronavirus, it is drawing closer to the November election where President Trump is set to face off against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Amy Walter, the national editor of the Cook Political Report, joins Christiane Amanpour to discuss how the U.S. presidential race is shaping up. Around the world people are struggling in lockdown, separated from loved ones and trying to prevent the spread of Covid-19; all of which is having a massive strain on our mental health. Psychologist Jack Saul unpacks how this trauma and how best to treat it. Dr. Helene Gayle is the current president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust and previously worked for 20 years at the CDC - she digs into why the mortality rate is much higher for black Americans with our Michel Martin. She explains why economic inequality is the key. And finally, Angélique Kidjo, singer and UNICEF goodwill ambassador, reflects on the healing power of music and what motivated her to reinvent Miriam Makeba’s famous South African hit ‘Pata Pata.’ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    57 min
  10. Angélique Kidjo, Taxing the child free, Recognition for first England footie team

    07/11/2022

    Angélique Kidjo, Taxing the child free, Recognition for first England footie team

    Angélique Kidjo is a 5 time Grammy Award winner from Benin who has been called "Africa's premier diva". Later this month she will be headlining the WOMAD world music and dance festival. She’ll be talking on Woman’s Hour about why she sings in five different languages and how music can be a greater force for change than politics. A recent article in the Sunday Times asked whether we should tax the childfree. It got a lot of attention and Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology at Oxford University joins Emma to discuss, as does Daisy Buchanan, an author and podcast host who has chosen to be child free. The first international England Women’s football match was in November 1972, England vs Scotland. Neither team were awarded with ‘caps’ which are awarded to players whenever they represent their country in an international match. Nicola Sturgeon awarded the 1972 Scottish Women’s team with their long awaited caps before the Women’s World Cup final last year. The 1972 England Women’s team are still waiting to receive theirs. 50 years on from that first match, we speak to Woman’s Hour listener and a 1972 goalkeeper for the England Women’s football team, Sue Whyatt and the honorary secretary of the Women’s Football Association, Patricia Gregory who co-organised the first international women’s England v Scotland match in November 1972. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Emma Pearce

    58 min
  11. Angélique Kidjo (the A-Side)

    11/24/2014

    Angélique Kidjo (the A-Side)

    Angélique Kidjo, the "Queen of African music" discusses her 1994 breakthrough album, 'Ayé'. Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them. Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side. In the A-side, the Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and activist from Benin talks to John Wilson. She also performs exclusive versions of key tracks, including "Agolo," "Adouma" and "Djan-Djan". The album has been described as "a spellbinding one-world statement" where "Kidjo treats her voice like it's a percussion instrument". One of ten children, Angélique Kidjo grew up in Benin in West Africa. But in the 1980s she moved to Paris to escape the communist regime and began synthesising the music of her native country with rock, funk, electronica and Euro-pop. Kidjo has collaborated with artists as diverse as Alicia Keys, Philip Glass, the Kronos Quartet and Peter Gabriel and been declared as the "the undisputed Queen of African Music." Her albums regularly top the World Albums Charts and her gift is said to be "to pour what could so easily be anger and frustration into songs that uplift and inspire us." In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions. Producer: Clare Walker First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2014.

    26 min
  12. Amanpour: Abbas Milani, Alice Waters, Mack Beggs, Nancy Beggs and Angélique Kidjo

    06/15/2021

    Amanpour: Abbas Milani, Alice Waters, Mack Beggs, Nancy Beggs and Angélique Kidjo

    Stanford's Abbas Milani joins Christiane Amanpour to talk about Ebrahim Raisi, the man widely expected to be Iran's next president, and prospects for the nuclear deal. Then Alice Waters, chef and author of "We Are What We Eat: A Slow Food Manifesto," explains how slow food is not only linked to our personal health but the health of our communities and the planet. Our Hari Sreenivasan speaks to transgender athlete and activist Mack Beggs and his grandmother Nancy Beggs about his story, reflected in new documentary “Changing the Game” and recent uptick in anti-transgender legislation across the United States. And finally, Grammy award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo performs some of her new album "Mother Nature" and discusses working with artists across the African diaspora. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    57 min
Angélique Kidjo on Apple