Angelique Kidjo Performs Live

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – Angelique Kidjo Performs Live

Podcast Information:

• Title: All Of It
• Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC
• Episode: Angelique Kidjo Performs Live
• Release Date: August 8, 2025
• Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, aiming to engage thinkers, doers, makers, and creators in discussions about the what and why of their work.

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Introduction

In this vibrant episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart welcomes the international Grammy-winning superstar Angelique Kidjo. Celebrated by Time magazine as one of the most important people in the world, Kidjo graces the show with her infectious energy and poignant insights just before her electrifying performance at Carnegie Hall. The episode seamlessly blends an in-depth interview with a captivating live performance, offering listeners a comprehensive glimpse into Kidjo’s life, her artistic journey, and her profound views on culture and freedom.

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Interview Highlights

A Journey from Benin to Paris (04:28 – 05:02)

Alison Stewart opens the discussion by drawing a parallel between Danao Mengestu's novel Someone Like Us and Angelique Kidjo’s own life. She asks:

Alison Stewart [04:28]: "You know, it was interesting in Danao's book, the journalist, he decides to live in Paris. You live in Paris? From Benin?"

Angelique responds candidly about her forced migration:

Angelique Kidjo [04:36]: "I didn't choose to leave my country, but I have to leave my country."

She delves into the hardships of fleeing from a repressive regime:

Angelique Kidjo [04:43]: "I run away from communism, dictatorship, and that trauma is still with me. When you leave your loved ones, you don't know where you’re going or how to feel at home."

The Trauma of Exile and Family Sacrifice (04:42 – 05:02)

Angelique elaborates on the emotional and logistical challenges of exile:

Angelique Kidjo [04:43]: "For six years I didn't hear the voice of my parents. It took my parents a year to find the money to send me."

She highlights the immense risk her family took:

Angelique Kidjo [05:02]: "The decision impacts not only my life but the whole family because my father and mother taught us to be free thinkers and to speak freely."

Reflections on Democracy and Freedom (05:02 – 08:01)

Angelique shares her skepticism about democracy's durability:

Angelique Kidjo [05:02]: "Once they're in power, they don't go. They will kill you when you want to."

She emphasizes the fragility of freedom and the enduring power of love:

Angelique Kidjo [07:00]: "Love is more powerful than nuclear weapons. It produces all the time."

Parental Influence and the Value of Education (08:01 – 10:15)

Discussing her upbringing, Angelique credits her parents for instilling critical thinking and resilience:

Angelique Kidjo [08:08]: "The part of me that survived is the love of my parents and the value that they've given me."

She reflects on her father's dedication to education:

Angelique Kidjo [09:56]: "My father said, this is your ultimate weapon. Use your brain."

Their relationship was marked by mutual respect and intellectual curiosity:

Angelique Kidjo [10:15]: "If you want to sit on my bed, you sit and you shut up."

Embracing Change and Personal Agency (08:08 – 10:15)

Angelique speaks passionately about adapting to constant change and taking responsibility:

Angelique Kidjo [09:53]: "Never think that this year will finish the next year exactly the same. Change is the fate of nature."

She encourages self-validation and proactive engagement:

Angelique Kidjo [10:00]: "Don't wait for somebody else to validate you. Validate yourself and do something about it."

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Live Performances

"Kalele" Performance (03:59 – 04:28)

Angelique Kidjo opens with her spirited performance of "Kalele," setting an energetic tone for the event. The song showcases her signature blend of African rhythms and contemporary sounds, captivating the audience from the start.

"Mama Africa" – A Celebration of Unity and Joy (14:19 – 19:28)

As the highlight of the evening, Angelique delivers a powerful rendition of "Mama Africa." She engages the audience, encouraging them to sing along and embody the song's message of shedding burdens and celebrating togetherness:

Angelique Kidjo [14:44]: "Come on, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go. Come on, come on, come on."

The performance crescendos with the audience on their feet, dancing and singing, embodying the communal spirit Angelique so passionately advocates.

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Conclusion

This episode of All Of It masterfully intertwines Angelique Kidjo's personal narrative with her artistic expression, offering listeners a profound exploration of culture, resilience, and the transformative power of music. From her harrowing experiences fleeing dictatorship to her unwavering belief in love and change, Kidjo's insights resonate deeply, underscored by her vibrant performances that celebrate unity and cultural diversity. Through this episode, WNYC not only showcases Kidjo's exceptional talent but also highlights the broader themes of freedom, education, and the enduring impact of cultural heritage.

Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Our October get lit selection was the novel Someone Like Us from author Danao Mengestu, which takes place partially in Paris. So we were thrilled that international Grammy winning superstar Angeliqueau, who has called France her home for many decades, joined us just ahead of her shows at Carnegie Hall. Her performances were so joyful and infectious that by the end of the event, our audience was on their feet. Even Danau Mengestu was dancing. Angelique has been called one of the most important people in the world by Time magazine. She joined us live in the Stavros Niarchos foundation library for an interview and performance. You'll hear my conversation with her in a moment. But first, here is Angeli Kijo with a live performance of her song Kalele.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Me. So good to see you.

[Alison Stewart]

You know, it was interesting in Dinau's book, the journalist, he decides to live in Paris. You live in Paris? From Benin?

[Angelique Kidjo]

You came from Benin to Paris? I mean, I didn't choose to leave my country, but I have to leave my country.

[Alison Stewart]

Please tell me more.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Well, I run away from communism, dictatorship, and that trauma is still with me. I mean, when you leave your loved one, don't know where you going, how even though you speak the language, nothing is like, home, never.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[Angelique Kidjo]

And people that go somewhere, no one ever take that decision. Like, oh, I'm just going to check it out. It's not that easy. And for six years I didn't hear the voice of my parents. I couldn't call because I didn't know if the phone was tapped. It took my parents a year to find the money to send me. And I didn't ask for the authorization that you should ask and have a stamp on your passport. And then they know when you're coming back. You don't come back, then your family become a liability. So I took the risk and my parents took the risk with me. The large vision of my father was my father sitting behind the wheel, getting me to the airport, not coming too close and weeping and asking himself as a father, is it a good decision to send his daughter out there, not knowing if I'm gonna make it or if I'm gonna come back, I'm gonna be caught and put in jail without him knowing. It is a decision that it have impact not only on my life but the whole family because my father and mother taught us to be free thinker and to speak freely. So here I am a couple of years now, and I'm seeing around me, everybody fantasizing and saying the heck with it. Wow. We don't want democracy anymore. So it's going to be dictatorship. We're going to take it. Can I tell you one thing? It took us more than 20 years to get rid of that guy. And once they're in power, they don't go. They don't go. And they will kill you that vote for them. They will kill you when they want to. They can do whatever they want to do because you give them the power by voting them in office. They never leave. So for me coming here and then living in France and traveling around the world, seeing how fragile our freedom is, it's not even democracy. The freedom to be not one person is born to this world with shackles. Since we've been on this earth, it's like something have been on the way for us to understand that love is the most powerful weapon. Love is more powerful than nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapon will wipe everything away. Love produce all the time. Accepting the fact that you are different from somebody else is in itself a self affirmation of yourself. Because once you see that you're different, you accept somebody else's difference. We can all be the same. We can't think the same, we can't like the same thing. It's not possible. It's one human family within it there are infinite differences. Why are we afraid? That's the question I ask all the time.

[Alison Stewart]

Why do you think? What part of you survived in Paris when you were a kid?

[Angelique Kidjo]

The part of me that survived is the love of my parents and the value that they've given me. My father always used to say, I want you guys to go to school. I want you to read forbidden books. Because even in forbidden books there's something you're gonna learn. That the world in which we live in as he's sitting down there talking to us tomorrow will be different. And that's just the fate of nature, is the fate of us as human being that the change is going to be constant. Never think that this year finish the next year going to be exactly the replica of the one that has finished. It's never going to happen. Because if we don't change, we disappear. That changes when you are educated and you can analyze the situation at large. You're not the only one feeling the what what you're feeling. But how do you accept that that change is going to be an opportunity, not a threat? Not. Not hate, nothing negative. But how can I play my role in the change? Who can I be how flexible can I be? We have water in our body. I mean, we change, we move. Everybody work differently. Life is the same thing. So when you accept that this period we live in is difficult. Yes, it's a fact. It's not an understatement. But how can we play a role in making it better for our children if you're not thinking like that and you just hang on to your anger and your frustration? Me, I don't count. Everybody counts. Don't wait for somebody else to validate you. Validate yourself and do something about it.

[Alison Stewart]

Sounds like your parents taught you to think.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Oh, my father said, this is your ultimate weapon. It's not a bowl of spaghetti put in front of you. You know my father, when you ask stupid question, he looked at me and said, aren't you waiting for me to answer you? I have my brain. You have yours. Use it. Dart. I said, no dart in here.

[Alison Stewart]

You said he was a book eater. He loved to read.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Oh, my God. Jesus. God help you. You want to ask Dad a question? Urgent question. If you want to sit on the bedside, I bet you anything you're going to be poked by your book. Doesn't matter how many chefs you put out there. I'm like, dad, why don't you put the book back? He says, my room, whatever I do with my book, it's not a business. You want to sit on my bed? You sit and you shut up. I'm like, okay, dad. Okay. You got a point. You got a point.

[Alison Stewart]

Angelique, hijo, thank you so much for being with us.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Thank you for having me.

[Alison Stewart]

We got a gentleman with a guitar right there.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Like sa you.

[Alison Stewart]

That was Grammy winning singer Angelique. She was our musical guest for our October get lit with all of it book club event. Before we send you out into the weekend, we're going to hear one more song she performed that evening. She got the crowd to sing along and said that this song was about putting down our burdens for a while. To celebrate being together, here's Angeli Kijo's live performance of Mama Africa.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Y' all ready for me? Okay, you're gonna sing this. Let me get you New York. Now you're getting ready. Okay, now let's be serious. Y' all giving me the tight New Yorkers. I don't worry, I am the only one that have the right to be tight because I'm jet lag. So I need your energy to help me through this song. So when I say let's go, sing it out loud. Stand up, jumping, whatever you want. To do. Just do. Okay. Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go. Come on.

[Audience Member]

Yes.

[Angelique Kidjo]

Come on, come on, come on. Come on, y'. All. It.

[Alison Stewart]

That was Mama Africa performed by Angeli Kijo at one of our get lit with all of it book club events. After the news, we'll hear a little bit about Leila Lalamy's new novel the Dream Hotel and hear some music from the New York based Moroccan band Imal Ganawa. But first, we want to announce that today, WNYC's Public Song Project released a super deluxe album, 35 Tracks. Celebrating public radio and the public domain at an important time for both. The Public Song Project Super Deluxe album includes songs from Rhiannon Giddens, the Lemon Twigs, Roseanne Cash, Odyssey, Bella Fleck, Will Butler and more. To hear the Public Song Project Super Deluxe album, head to publicsongproject.bandcamp.com and if you want to hear the almost 300 tracks that listeners have submitted to the project, head to wnyc.org publicsongproject we'll have more all of it after the news. Stick around.

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[WNYC Announcer]

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