Global pop star and three-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo is an international creative force. Her striking voice, illuminating stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have expanded her following across national borders. Kidjo has cross-pollinated the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America. Kidjo received the prestigious 2015 Crystal Award given by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and the 2016 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award. She has appeared in several films, and won Best Actress in a Supporting Role from the African Movie Academy Awards for her role in Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan’s The CEO. It’s no surprise that acting is also in her blood: Kidjo’s mother founded a theater company in Benin, and she made her stage debut at age six. Yemandja represents Kidjo’s premiere appearance in a theatrical work.
