Photo Credit: Johnny Au
Coming to Australia all the way from Benin in West Africa is the beautiful, the wonderful Angélique Kidjo. She’s a Grammy Award winning artist who has been described as “the undisputed queen of African music” and is no stranger to our shores, returning this past week to play Bluesfest in Byron Bay as well as a run of her own shows, including a very special night at the Sydney Opera House supported by another musical powerhouse, the one and only Mavis Staples.
The almost two hour set kicked off sans Angélique, her four backing musicians walking on, banging their bells and getting the percussion – and the dancing – started early, before the colourful Angélique danced herself on stage and got the crowd moving. Her music is sung in a mix of languages – English, Fon, French, Yorùbá and some of her own – but her messages are universal. Her music translates into messages about peace, as in “Kulumbu”, equality as in “Afrika”, abuse of women, as in “Eva” and celebration, as in “Bomba”. The voice of her mother joined her briefly and her band were a strong one, focusing on percussion but adding in guitar and bass lines when needed. A fifth member came on board later in the set to add some extra flavour to the party.
And a party it became, with Angélique moving the show into the crowd, walking through the venue during a cover of Miriam Makeba’s “Mama Africa”, which she performs in tribute to the legendary African musician, who she cites as her friend, mentor and inspiration. She ended the set inviting the crowd up to the stage to join her, and it became nothing less than a dance party – even a dance off at once point.
Her messages are powerful, whether they’re about cries for help or about the strength and success of her country. She fills her set with her beliefs, which are as entrancing to hear as the music itself. She talks about educating women, she talks about abuse and she talks about her love for Africa. She’s an inspiring spirit and it makes her music all the more intoxicating.
Those hoping for the Mavis Staples to join Angelique on stage may have been disappointed, but you still couldn’t have asked for much more and it was hard not to leave this night of exquisite music and a strong message without a smile on your face.
A spectacular way to bring to an end a fortnight of incredible Bluesfest sideshows in Sydney.
Angelique performed alongside Mavis Staples at the Opera House. You can read our review of Mavis’ performance HERE
