Image of Angelique Kidjo…photo credit: NPR
Angèlique Kidjo
Angèlique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo dubbed by Time Magazine as Africa’s premier diva is a Grammy-Award winning singer and songwriter. She’s behind the hits “Ife” and “Wombo Lombo” to name a few. This musical genius has been a Goodwill Ambassador with UNICEF since 2002 and has travelled extensively over Africa and the Caribbean.
She founded The Batonga Foundation with Mary Louise Cohen and John R. Phillips for the purposes of affording young girls with educational opportunities via scholarships, providing school supplies, sustaining mentoring programs, and forming schools amongst advocating for the community awareness of the students.
She campaigns extensively for “Africa for women’s rights” spearheaded by The International Federation of Human Rights, worked in conjunction with Pampers on their campaign “Give The Gift Of Life” by recording a song named “You Can Count On Me;” the proceeds from each download went towards the vaccination of a soon-to-be-mother. She’s also a contributor to the “Art Of Saving A Life” campaign initiated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
