Angélique Kidjo is not renowned for her puritanical approach. On stage, she might sing songs by George Gershwin or Jimi Hendrix alongside traditional melodies from her native Benin.
Hailed as the Queen of African music, the sonorous songstress has long raged at white critics who claim that her work is inauthentic.
Once named one of the world's 100 most influential women by The Guardian, Kidjo's last tour paid tellingly diverse dues to her own heroes: a three-part celebration of African legend Miriam Makeba, American soul great Nina Simone and Cuba's salsa queen Celia Cruz.
But even viewed through this multi-hued prism, Kidjo's latest project remains a hearty head-scratcher: a complete in-concert recreation of rock band Talking Heads' 1980 masterpiece Remain in Light.
Bathing that album's fidgety, urban claustrophobia in a burst of summery euphoria – with help from the horn section of celebrated Afrobeat revivalists Antibalas – the work makes its first appearance outside the United States at New York University Abu Dhabi.
The concept comes wracked with the issues of appropriation and influence that Kidjo, at 57, professes to care little for. Steeped in African polyrhythms, Remain in Light was the product of Talking Heads and producer Brian Eno overdosing on West African grooves – especially Fela Kuti – and repurposing those dense, hypnotic textures through their artily detached New York poise. For Kidjo, the result was a revelation.
Remain in Light was one of the first records the young singer heard when she arrived in Paris in 1983, fleeing Benin's communist regime.
The music was at once familiar and foreign. "It felt both close and far – for me, Remain in Light showed that we are all homo sapiens and that music is in our DNA – and we all come from Africa," says Kidjo, who now lives in New York but is speaking from France, where the fates of tour scheduling have landed her once more. "I wanted to bring Remain in Light back to Africa – because it all started in the part of Africa I come from."
The show will mark Kidjo's fourth live performance of the project – more American gigs are booked around the May 5 release of her version of Remain in Light, the 14th studio album of her 35-year career. During the world premiere, at New York's Carnegie Hall in May last year, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne made an appearance duetting on the centrepiece Once in a Lifetime, music that the Byrne has squarely refused to perform alongside his own bandmates since Talking Heads split in 1991.
Observers praised Kidjo, Byrne less so, and speculated if the performance was truly spontaneous or just made to appear so. In Kidjo’s telling, it began when she received an email from Byrne’s assistant two hours before curtains up, when the elder statesman of cerebral rock couldn’t find a ticket for the sold-out show.
In between breathless laughter, she recalls running around the hallowed venue's corridors, in the middle of her set, trying to hunt down the last-minute VIP box that the hall had stumped up.
"It was very courageous of him to just jump in like that – he hadn't even heard my version of the song," Kidjo recalls. "David Byrne is an artist, fully – he's open. He has a way of saying things which are profoundly true."
The sway that Byrne's voice holds over Kidjo may have to do with more than music. Talking Heads reached the singer at a crossroads in her life – and Remain in Light's flow of energy from the western world to Africa mirrored her own flight in reverse.
Born in Benin's largest city, Cotonou, in 1960, Kidjo grew up in a liberal family. Her mother worked in the theatre, played clarinet and sang, while her father – who played the banjo because "everyone else plays guitar, and where's the fun in that?" – was the proud owner of a record collection that stretched from traditional Yoruba music to contemporary African stars such as Kuti, Makeba and the recently parted Hugh Masekela, slotted alongside James Brown and Stevie Wonder.
"We grew up not knowing how much privilege we had and how unusual it was at that time," she says. "For me, I've always been surrounded in a setting of love, care and curiosity. My father's philosophy was: 'Your brain is your ultimate weapon – use it.' It's not given to you to sit on."
This utopian cocoon of ideas and affection was abruptly shaken following the military coup of 1972, which led to the foundation of the socialist People's Republic of Benin three years later, in place of the post-colonial nation known as the Republic of Dahomey. Kidjo remembers how the communist purge even pierced the family threshold, after her father refused to take a political position.
"He told them: 'I'm a postman, I don't do politics – I don't know nothing about it and I don't want blood on my hands'," Kidjo remembers. "From that moment, he said to us: 'Watch out, you don't know who is your friend anymore. If you don't want me or your mother to end up in jail, your freedom of speech in this home is gone.'
“The warmth I was talking about completely disappeared, because you’re always afraid – even of your own family. The country was transformed into an open jail cell.”
For Kidjo, who was already a regional star, it was crippling for her career. Concerts were subject to permission, as were visits to play in neighbouring nations such as Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Togo. She refused to perform for the heads of state or pen the patriotic anthems they demanded. As pressure mounted, her family hatched an escape plan.
Joining her older brother, who had fled five years earlier, Kidjo was forced to make radical lifestyle readjustments. Rather than a renowned entertainer, in France she was forced to work menial jobs – cleaning hotel rooms, braiding hair, babysitting – while taking gigs as a backing singer.
She saved to fund studies at jazz school Le Cim, where she met future husband Jean Hebrail, who is her musical director on Remain in Light.
Discovered on the Parisian club circuit by Island Records' founder, Chris Blackwell, Kidjo's fortunes changed dramatically with the release of Logozo in 1991. Featuring star saxophonists Branford Marsalis and Manu DiBango, her major-label debut rocketed to the top of the Billboard World Music chart. Recorded at Prince's Paisley Park, follow-up Ayé spawned the single Agolo, which was nominated for Best Music Video at the Grammys in 1994, while Carlos Santana guested on third album Fifa a year later.
Kidjo's music continued to evolve in sonics and scope. Next came a trilogy of LPs – Oremi, Black Ivory Soul and Oyaya! – exploring the African roots of American music, a recurring theme in her work.
A raft of A-list guests joined her on 2007's Djin Djin including Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Ziggy Marley and, perhaps inevitably, Peter Gabriel. The result would win Kidjo her first Grammy; she would pick up a pair more for her two more recent releases – Eve (2014), a tribute to the women of Africa inspired by self-captured field recordings; and the full circle of Sings (2016), backed by Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg and bathing familiar material in glorious orchestrations.
Parallel to these musical milestones have been career landmarks: in 2011, The Guardian placed Kidjo on its list of the world's 100 Most Inspiring Women, while the BBC included her on a list of the continent's 50 Most Iconic Figures. In 2014, Forbes ranked Kidjo among the 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa.
These accolades say as much about Kidjo’s ever-more-visible advocacy work as they do her music. While now based in New York, Kidjo has remained a committed and coherent voice on the problems facing her home continent, since 2002 serving as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador.
In 2007, she founded The Batonga Foundation, a non-profit organisation providing African girls secondary-school and higher education.
"When you're born a girl in Africa, you don't have an identity of yourself," she says. "You are the daughter of your father, who can marry you off to any man he wants."
When we talk, it is just a few days after American president Donald Trump reportedly dismissed African nations in derogatory expletives. Rather than launching into a justifiable tirade, however, Kidjo quietly probes the wider issues.
“We cannot be complacent. We’ve been complacent all the way – that is why this is happening today,” she answers. “If we had been a society that called a lie, a lie – that called bullying, bullying – we wouldn’t be here.
“Our social network brought this to us, so it’s up to us to find a solution and to make a stop of it.
“I’m always a hopeful person, and I think the day is going to come when we wake up and realise working alone is not the answer – working together is the way we make a change.”
Angélique Kidjo performs Remain in Light at the East Plaza, New York University Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, February 3, from 7pm. For tickets and more information, visit www.nyuad-artscenter.org
__________________
Read more:
Remembering South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela
Mandela Trilogy: The role of music in the anti-apartheid movement
Angélique Kidjo breaks moulds with music
__________________
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
More from Aya Iskandarani
THE%C2%A0SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%204-cylinder%202.5-litre%20%2F%202-litre%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20188hp%20%2F%20248hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20244Nm%20%2F%20370Nm%0D%3Cbr%3ETransmission%3A%207-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh110%2C000%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Wallabies
Updated team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-Pete Samu, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
Facebook | Our website | Instagram
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Courses%20at%20Istituto%20Marangoni%2C%20Dubai
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUndergraduate%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EInterior%20Design%3B%20Product%20Design%3B%20Visual%20Design%3B%20Fashion%20Design%20%26amp%3B%20Accessories%3B%20Fashion%20Styling%20%26amp%3B%20Creative%20Direction%3B%20Fashion%20Business%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Fashion%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Design%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EProfessional%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20e-Commerce%20%26amp%3B%20Digital%20Marketing%3B%20Fashion%20Entrepreneurship%3B%20Fashion%20Luxury%20Retail%20and%20Visual%20Merchandising%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShort%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20design%3B%20Fashion%20Image%20%26amp%3B%20Styling%3B%20Fashion%20Trend%20Forecasting%3B%20Interior%20Design%3B%20Digital%20Art%20in%20Fashion%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20is%20at%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istitutomarangoni.com%2Fen%3Futm_source%3DLocal%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3Dgmb%26utm_content%3Ddubai%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Ewww.istitutomarangoni.com%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%204.4-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20653hp%20at%205%2C400rpm%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20800Nm%20at%201%2C600-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3ETransmission%3A%208-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E0-100kph%20in%204.3sec%0D%3Cbr%3ETop%20speed%20250kph%0D%3Cbr%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20NA%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Q2%202023%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh750%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
