‘Africa’s Premier Diva’ – Angélique Kidjo
Vancouver, BC – The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) presents Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Angélique Kidjo on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 8pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. The internationally-acclaimed artist will present an exuberant evening of her inimitable songs, which draw on such diverse and eclectic musical stylings as Afropop, Caribbean zouk, Congolese rumba, jazz, gospel, and Latin.
“Our vision for the 2012/13 season was to present a diverse range of artists who not only represent the world, but who have created positive change through their work and art,” said Joyce Hinton, Co-Managing Director of the Chan Centre. “Angélique Kidjo is a brilliant example of such an individual. As a musician, her radiant, ebulliant voice uplifts hundreds of thousands of individuals. As an activist, her work brings aid and relief to the world’s most needy, shining a light on humanitarian issues that affect us all as global citizens.”
Born in Benin, Angélique Kidjo is one of Africa’s most internationally celebrated female musicians. Recently listed among the Guardian’s Top ‘100 Most Inspiring Women in the World,’ Kidjo is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, a tireless campaigner for women’s health and girls’ education in Africa, and a dynamic environmentalist who brings enormous awareness to global issues of consumption and climate change.
To date, the prolific Kidjo has released 12 acclaimed albums during her celebrated career including her latest, Spirit Rising, which was released in February 2012. Fluent in numerous languages, Kidjo regularly sings in English and French, as well as Fon and Yorùbá from her native West Africa.
She has collaborated with many popular recording artists including Carlos Santana, Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Branford Marsalis, Bono, and Herbie Hancock. Kidjo’s hits include the songs Agolo, We We, Adouma, Wombo Lombo, Afirika, Batonga, and her version of Malaika. Kidjo’s 2007 album Djin Djin earned the songstress a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music album.
Pre-Show Talk:
There will be a free pre-show talk for ticket holders at 7:15pm in the Royal Bank Cinema at the Chan Centre. Veronica Fynn, Adjunct Professor with UBC’s School of Population and Public Health, will speak about her experiences as a Liberian-born war survivor with particular reference to the strong female influences of Angélique Kidjo and her own mother.
LISTING INFORMATION Angélique Kidjo Date: Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 8pm
Ticket prices: $36-$72 (Student and senior discounts available) Address: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts University of British Columbia 6265 Crescent Road Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 604-822-2697 or www.chancentre.com.
Ticketmaster by phone 1.855.985.(ARTS) 2787, or www.ticketmaster.ca.
Angela Poon
