Biography
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo is a Beninese musician, actress, and activist. Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards and a Polar Music Prize. She has collaborated with artists including Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Philip Glass, Bono, Yo-Yo Ma, and Burna Boy. She is the second African artist — and the first of African ethnicity — to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She performed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on July 23, 2021. In 2021, Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Kidjo is fluent in five languages: Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen (Mina) and English. She sings in all of them, and she also has her own personal language, which includes words that serve as song titles such as "Batonga". Kidjo often uses Benin's traditional Zilin vocal technique and vocalese.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA
Awards & recognition
- Polar Music Prize · 2023
- Time 100 · 2021
- BBC 100 Women · 2020
- Grammy Award — Best Global Music Album · 2020
- Officer of the Legion of Honour · 2020
Show all 30 awards →
- OkayAfrica 100 Women · 2018
- Africa Movie Academy Award — Best Actress in a Supporting Role · 2017
- Ambassador of Conscience Award · 2016
- Grammy Award — Best Global Music Album · 2016
- Crystal Award · 2015
- Grammy Award — Best Global Music Album · 2015
- All Africa Music Award — Best Female Artiste in Western Africa · 2014
- All Africa Music Award — Best African Contemporary · 2014
- Champions of the Earth · 2011
- Commander of the National Order of Benin · 2008
- Grammy Award — Best Global Music Album · 2008
- Medal of the City of Paris · 2004
- MOBO Awards · 2002
- Kora Awards · 1997
- Danish Music Awards · 1995
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
- honorary doctor of the Berklee College of Music
- Honorary doctor of the Catholic University of Louvain
- Officer of Arts and Letters
- Officer of the Ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg
- Grammy Award — Best Contemporary World Music Album · 2010 · nominated
- Grammy Award — Best Contemporary World Music Album · 2004 · nominated
- Grammy Award — Best Global Music Album · 2002 · nominated
- Grammy Award — Best Global Music Album · 1998 · nominated
- Grammy Award — Best Music Video · 1994 · nominated
Filmography9 titles
The Arc de Triomphe: A Nation's Passion
The Woman King
Still Bill
Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Mother of George
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
People I Know
Tamron Hall