Cal Performances Presents About the Artist

Friday, March , , pm Angélique Kidjo Zellerbach Hall

Th e explosive growth in the popularity of world Over the years, Ms. Kidjo has delved deeply music during the past several decades has broad- into the African roots of music from the United Angélique Kidjo ened the boundaries of our world, reminding lis- States, Brazil and the Caribbean. Th e results of teners of the vast cultural wealth and diversity in her explorations are the Grammy-nominated tril- this wired age. Th e music of African-born song- ogy of albums, Oremi, Black Ivory Soul and Oyaya. stress Angélique Kidjo off ers another perspective: With her latest album, Djin Djin (pronounced that the world is also much smaller than we think, “gin gin,” and winner of the  Grammy Award and that no matter how far fl ung its peoples may for Best Contemporary World Album), Ms. Kidjo be, subtle lines of interconnection span the globe, returns to the soul of Benin—and shares it with a uniting its people. cast of all-star guests, in a marriage of cultures that Ms. Kidjo, whose work has earned her a has signifi cance far beyond music alone. Inspired Grammy Award and four Grammy nominations, by the traditions and culture of Ms. Kidjo’s native has cross-pollinated the West African traditions of land, the album’s title refers to the sound of the bell her childhood in Benin with elements of American that greets the beginning of a new day for Africa. R&B, funk and jazz, as well as infl uences from Although Ms. Kidjo has written and sung ex- Europe and Latin America. Th roughout her ca- tensively in French and English, for Djin Djin the reer, she has collaborated with such renowned in- lyrics came to her from further back in her history: ternational artists as Carlos Santana and Gilberto Some of the songs on the album are sung in the Gil. Her duet with Dave Matthews on the song indigenous languages of Benin, Nigeria and Togo. “Iwoya,” which appeared on her  album Black Her songs embrace the joys and sorrows of life: the Ivory Soul, was a critical success that helped to ex- magic of birth (“Salala”); the uniqueness of each pand and diversify her fan base. person, even on this crowded planet (“Arouna”); Th e daughter of an actress, dancer and theat- the temptations of violence (“Mama Golo Papa”); rical producer, Ms. Kidjo was born in Quidah, a the healing and learning potential of music (“Awan coastal city in the West African country of Benin. N’La”); the lessons off ered as youth yields to age Inheriting her mother’s love of performing, she (“Sedjedo”); and isolation deepens in modern so- made her stage debut with her mother’s theatrical ciety (“Emma”). troupe. Inspired by the rock, pop and soul music Angélique Kidjo’s striking voice, charismatic of Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Miriam Makeba, James stage presence and fl uency in multiple cultures and Brown and Aretha Franklin, she was singing pro- languages have won her the respect of her peers, ex- fessionally by her th birthday. Although her de- panded her following across national borders and Angélique Kidjo vocals but album, Pretty, produced by Cameroon-based made her one of the most popular artists on the Habib Faye bass, music director vocalist Ekambi Brilliant, yielded a hit single, current world scene. Th ese qualities have also en- João Mota guitar “Ninive,” the oppressive political environment of abled her to dedicate herself at a high level to global Rubens de la Corte guitar Benin led her to relocate in  to Paris, the capi- charity work, speaking out on behalf of the world’s Ibrahim Diagne percussion tal of world music, where her international career children in her capacity as a goodwill ambassador Harvey Wirht drums began to blossom. for UNICEF.

Th is performance is made possible, in part, by Peet’s Coff ee & Tea.

Cal Performances’ – season is sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank.

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