JACKSON, WY — Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer, activist, and humanitarian Angélique Kidjo will take the stage at the Center for the Arts Thursday, May 10.
Kidjo grew up in Benin, West Africa, where she was lucky to come from a family that believed in educating girs. Her parents made sure that all 10 of their children went to school, despite the popular belief that education was “only for boys.”
Now, Kidjo is considered one of the greatest artists in international music today. She has 13 albums to her name, and TIME has called her “Africa’s premier diva.” With the strength of her voice, the power of her words, and the intensity of her performance, Kidjo creates music that not only transcends language, but connects the entire world.
Kidjo is still committed to education. She believes that educated women will fight to ensure their children receive an education and begin a tradition that will span generations, and change the future for women.
During her May 10th presentation,“Give Her Wings: Teach Girls & Empower Women,” Kidjo will share stories from her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and from Batonga Foundation, an organization she formed in 2006 to empower young girls through education. She will interweave songs with accompaniment by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Dominic James, who has toured and recorded with Angélique, Paul Simon, Harry Belafonte, Pharoah Sanders, among many others. James was also the featured guitar and bass section on Shakira’s hit “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“There is nothing like bringing a performer to The Center stage to amplify her message,” said Jen Simon, President of the Center Fund. “Having an internationally acclaimed voice like Angelique Kidjo in Jackson speaks to The Center’s commitment to elevating key community conversations and doing so in a powerful, creative, multi-media way.”
Thanks to the generous support of St. John’s Episcopal Church, equipoise fund, Wyoming Council for Women, and Soroptimist of Jackson Hole, The Center will be able to help Angelique inspire young women leaders as well. Thirty young women in the community will have the chance to attend the performance and meet privately with Angelique afterward for a personal Q&A about education and empowerment. Jess Yeomans, director of GAP! said, “This is breathtaking. The girls would LOVE to meet her.” Mickey Babcock, founder of equipoise fund, expressed her excitement that middle school girls from Girls Actively Participating (GAP!) would have the rare opportunity to engage directly with a woman who is a leader on the world stage.
The show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets for Angelique Kidjo: Give Her Wings: Teach Girls & Empower Women are on sale now for $32-42 (plus processing fee) online at JHCenterForTheArts.org.
