Angélique Kidjo

Five-time Grammy Award winner and named in The Guardian’s top 100 most inspiring women in 2011, Angélique Kidjo returned to Adelaide for both WOMADelaide (replacing UK artist Nitin Sawhney after a medical emergency) and a one night only performance at the Festival Theatre. The acclaimed Beninese-French singer, songwriter, and renowned activist is celebrating her 40^th year on the world stage and showcasing her most recent album Mother Nature. 

For the Australian leg of the tour Kidjo is supported by Noongar song-maker Maatakitj (meaning ‘skinny legs like spears’).  This captivating singer and guitarist (Clint Bracknell by day) is from the south coast of WA and Professor of Music at the University of Western Australia.  Joining Maatakitj on stage was Perth-based percussionist Arunachala playing an impressively large and resonant calabash plus fellow Noongar artists Della Rae Morrison and Kylie Bracknell on backing vocals.  Maatakitj’s eminently danceable and compelling songs in language mark his rich and evolving culture with driving rhythms and complex tempos and were clearly appreciated by the audience.  Maatakitj and co also joined Kidjo near the end of her set alongside a children’s choir while the entire audience exuberantly sang the refrain from ‘Afirika’ (Ashè é Maman, ashè é Maman Afirika) from her 2002 album Black Ivory Soul.  There were multiple opportunities to clap, sing, and dance as Kidjo urged us to give in to our impulses.

Kidjo’s signature fusion of jazz, soul, world music, reggae, and pop blend with the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin plus influences from Europe and Latin America; all this cross-pollination creates a spell of rhythm and melody while her strong vocals soar over the top and she held the audience in thrall from the first moment.  With sixteen albums now recorded, this woman is as much a creative force as she was at the beginning of her fame.  Kidjo mentioned her special connection to Australia thanking us for embracing her music from the get go.  The 1991 album Logozo was a huge hit here and Kidjo first toured Australia in 1992.  The woman may be in her mid-sixties but still moves and sings with infectious energy and a powerful, inspiring presence.  It was just a little stifling to sit in such a formal auditorium (and the dress circle felt very far away from the stage); and mostly, it was the very front rows who powered out of their seats to dance.  I imagine the atmosphere at WOMAD was even more electric with plenty of room and opportunity to get on your feet.