MASS MoCA Welcomes Angelique Kidjo on Saturday [Berkshire On Stage]

Photograph by Andrzej Pilarczyk

World music icon Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo – better known simply as Angélique Kidjo – is a Beninese-born Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and activist who is returning to the Berkshires for a performance at MASS MoCA’s Hunter Center at 8pm on Saturday (February 13).

She arrives in North Adams for an intimate acoustic performance. “The power of Kidjo’s unflappable voice, the range of her emotional expression, the stellar, genre-bending musicians who back her, and the infectious, activist energy that courses through her songs all transcend any native tongue,” proclaimed NPR Music.

Called “Africa’s premier diva” by Time Magazine, Kidjo’s powerhouse voice and multi-genre musical chops combine Afro-pop, gospel and jazz and know no bounds. Recognized world-wide as one of the most inspiring and influential women in music, Kidjo conveys a universal message to all fighting for their rights. Seeking to upend negative representations of her beloved homeland Benin, she encourages the world to embrace the joy of Africa. Positivity shines through in her songs such as “Djin Djin,” about the sound of an African bell tolling to meet the new day.

Click to read the rest at Berkshire On Stage…