Beninese singer-songwriter and five-time Grammy Award winner, Angélique Kidjo, is set to grace the Royal Albert Hall on November 17 for a memorable celebration of her remarkable 40-year career. This special event will feature performances of her greatest hits, accompanied by her band and the Chineke! Orchestra, along with special guests.
The concert will serve as the inaugural performance of Kidjo’s year-long world tour, spanning various continents, including Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, and culminating at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall in 2024.
As part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, this concert will pay homage to the extensive catalogue of one of Africa’s most renowned artists. TIME magazine hailed Kidjo as “Africa’s premier diva” and included her in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. The recipient of the 2023 Polar Music Prize, Angélique Kidjo is celebrated for merging the West African traditions of her youth with American R&B, funk, and jazz, while incorporating influences from Europe and Latin America.
Angélique Kidjo expressed her excitement, saying, “Celebrating my 40-year career at the Royal Albert Hall is a dream come true. It is one of my favorite venues in the world. I intend to bring the spirit, beauty, and warmth of the African continent to its walls in November!”
Matt Todd, Director of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, shared, “It is a real privilege for us to host the debut concert of Angélique’s upcoming world tour at the Hall. She has achieved so much throughout her career, so to be able to celebrate the 40th anniversary in this historic building is a truly special occasion. The fact that she will be performing some of her best-loved songs alongside the Chineke! Orchestra will undoubtedly make for an unforgettable night, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for us.”
A UNICEF and OXFAM Goodwill Ambassador, Kidjo has graced the Royal Albert Hall twice before, notably at the 2019 BBC Proms and a 2008 Stars of Africa fundraising concert. She has collaborated with high-profile artists such as Burna Boy, Philip Glass, Sting, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Peter Gabriel, and many more. Kidjo’s participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in July 2021 further exemplifies her global impact.
The EFG London Jazz Festival, London’s premier city-wide music festival, has celebrated the fusion of global talent and emerging artists since 1992. Over 50 events have been held at the Royal Albert Hall since 2008, and Angélique Kidjo’s performance will mark the first EFG London Jazz Festival event in the historic auditorium.