Black Benin soul
Richard Burnett
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Kidjo : Under-exposed in most ways
photo: Photo courtesy of Sony Records
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No one sings the traditional Tanzanian song Malaika quite like Benin native Angélique Kidjo. Her devastating cover of Malaika - about the lifelong love the narrator cannot afford to marry, feed or care for (malaika is Swahili for "angel") - was first recorded by Kenyan musician Fadhili William back in the 1950s.But Kidjo's haunting version is eternal.
"It's my mother's favourite song," Kidjo tells me over the phone this week on her current North American tour cross-promoting her latest album Oyaya!.
While Kidjo's parents still live in Benin, Kidjo now divides her time between Paris and NYC when she isn't recording in studios around the globe. Oyaya! is the third album in a trilogy that previously explored African roots in American R'n'B (Oremi) and Brazil (Black Ivory Soul). Oyaya! draws on the musical traditions of the Caribbean diaspora, mainly Cuban (see review in the Spins section).
"I saw the strength of African women in Cuban women and the survival of the music that came from my continent," Kidjo says. "Modern music would not be what it is today without the input of the slaves. The Cuban people free their mind and soul through music. They may be oppressed and must suffer the [American] embargo, but they got music."
Though nominated for three Grammys over the years and despite collaborating with everyone from Santana to Gilbertto Gil (her duet with Dave Matthews on Black Ivory Soul introduced Kidjo to a whole new demographic),
Kidjo still has a terrible time getting respect from the music industry."It's always difficult because first of all I don't sing in English," Kidjo says. "And as an African woman they put you in a box. They expect you to dress a certain way. They are shocked when I wear jeans. They expect me to expose my titties. I say African women have evolved and they [record company executives] have to catch up. Music has been taken over by what's commercial. Money goes before artists and art. And that's really reducing the richness of this planet."
Kidjo continues: "If you are an African woman with a strong character, it's worse because they can't mold you the way they want to. I remember one female journalist in Denmark said to me, 'If you were white you would be more known.' Or if I was a black singer from America I would be more known. That is the sad part about my business."
Still, there is no getting around the fact that Kidjo is a stunning beauty. Just don't call her a diva (though she is a diva). "I don't know - I don't have any idea about myself apart from being blessed and gifted with the voice I have. That is my duty and that's what I will do 'till I die. Any other qualification they give me..."
Then, in an unexpectedly tender moment, Kidjo reveals, "I miss my home 24/7, but you always carry your home in your soul, in your heart."
Then Kidjo - who has just launched an 18-month world tour - promises she will sing her mother's favourite song in Montreal next week. "Yes, I will! I will sing Malaika. I will."
At Cabaret du Plateau, June 17
>No one sings the traditional Tanzanian song Malaika quite like Benin native Angélique Kidjo
That's true, other singer sings "Malaika" better than Angelique Kidjo: their pronouncation of swahili is much more accurate! Just listen to Myriam Makeba.
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Neno Saleh
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Angélique Kidjo is a woman who refuses to fit into a mold. You have to respect that. It's easy to blame the music industry for trying to pigeonhole artists, while trying to produce ever-increasing volumes of what they have sold before and ignoring anything that doesn't fit neatly into one of their predetermined categories. I do blame them for that. And yet, a lot of my favorite artists defy those labels, and make their own way in spite of them. For a talented and determined artist, there is an audience. If she's willing to perservere, while she may not get radio airplay, she will be heard. But it's up to us, as discriminating listeners, to go out and support these neglected artists and give them a reason to believe it.
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Karen Sollazzo
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{12 votes}
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| Along the line of Youssou N'Dour |
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I own CD's from Kidjo. They regularly come back to my sound system because of the richness of the voice, because of how she has been able to make her music international without losing her Benin flavour. A little bit like Mr. N'Dour, she has received the attention from other artists as well who have offered her collaborations.
We should not like her because she is from Africa and world beat is so cool. We should love her because she is a full grown artist with a voice of her own, with lyrics that do mean something.
Chances to see in concert don't come around often. We should feel lucky to have so easy access to her.
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Marc Charette
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{8 votes}
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| Angélique Kidjo has arrived... but where will you be? |
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Angélique Kidjo is too good for the music industry.
Actually most great artists are, that's why we never hear from them. I mean, if you had to put up with the two-dimensional closed-off logic that guides the monkeys in the music industry you'd walk away too.
Can we label her music?
How do we market her?
What's her key demographic and can we broaden it?
These are probably some of the questions these monkeys conjured up when Angélique Kidjo landed at the doorstep of the music industry. Like any true artist Angélique Kidjo is far interested in creating beautiful work but she like so many others found herself at the mercy of the machine.
Naturally, the music industry is all about making money and although this driving philosophy isn't in opposition to developing and nurishing great talent it isn't always on the same wavelenght.
Well, y'know what? Screw them. Screw the narrow-minded market and the Top 40 radio stations! Angélique Kidjo can bloody sing circles around the Britneys, Courtneys and Madonnas of the world. She. Can. Sing.
Period. End of discussion.
If you love singers who can not only mount solid shows but know how to blow you away then you know where to be on June 17.
Just because you aren't all familiar with her voice yet is no excuse not to go.
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Pedro Eggers
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{7 votes}
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Ah yes, summer has arrived... Angelique reminds us of that fact. If you want to be swept away by her passion, intensity and velvety vocals, you must catch her show on June 17th. Music is an international language. Even though she does not sing in English, you will be drawn into her world and become completely captivated. Her passion speaks volumes...
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Claudia Melchiorre
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{1 vote}
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