Angélique Kidjo’s Life & Music

Angélique Kidjo is kicking off 2014 with a double dose of creative output thanks to next month’s release of her autobiography and latest album. She’s sharing the new material with fans by playing more than a dozen dates, including shows that feature conversation and a Q&A.

Written with Rachel Wernick, “Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music” is due out Jan. 7 on Harper Collins. The autobiography includes a preface by Desmond Tutu and a foreword by Alicia Keys.

Bluesfest, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

The 16-track Eve is set for release Jan. 28 on Savoy/429 Records. The album includes guest musicians Dr. John, Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, the Kronos Quartet and Orchestra Philharmonique du Luxumbourg, as well as singers and women’s choirs from several African villages in Benin and Kenya.

Kidjo wrote Eve, which is named after her mother, as an ode to the pride, beauty and strength of African women, as well as their socio-cultural influence.

“I’ve spoken for many years about the beauty of African women, and I don’t need to talk anymore about it because on this recording I am letting the voices of the women show their beauty to the world,” Kidjo said. “Eve is all about showcasing the positively they bring to their villages, cities, cultures and the world.”

The Beninoise singer-songwriter and activist, who London’s Daily Telegraph has called “the undisputed queen of African music,” will hit the road for a trek scheduled Jan. 9 through Feb. 23. Along with a conversation and Q&A, the first four stops in January will also include two or three song performances. The February shows are regular concert dates.

Here’s the itinerary:  

Jan. 9 – New York, N.Y., Barnes And Noble – Union Square     
Jan. 23 – Los Angeles, Calif., Public Library     
Jan. 24 – San Francisco, Calif., Jewish Community Center     
Jan. 27 – Brooklyn, N.Y., Brooklyn Academy Of Music     
Feb. 5 –Durham, N.C., The Hayti Heritage Center     
Feb. 7 – Atlanta, Ga., Variety Playhouse     
Feb. 8 – Charlotte, N.C., McGlohon Theater     
Feb. 9 – Morgantown, W.Va., Creative Arts Center     
Feb. 11 – Chicago, Ill., City Winery Chicago     
Feb. 13 – Oberlin, Ohio, Finney Chapel     
Feb. 14 – Buffalo, N.Y., Buffalo State College     
Feb. 15 – New York, N.Y., Town Hall     
Feb. 16 – Washington, D.C., Lisner Auditorium     
Feb. 18 – Philadelphia, Pa., Prince Music Theatre     
Feb. 19 – Bethlehem, Pa., Musikfest Cafe At ArtsQuest Center     
Feb. 20 – Ridgefield, Conn., Ridgefield Playhouse     
Feb. 22 – Sherbrooke, Quebec, Granada Theatre     
Feb. 23 – Somerville, Mass., Somerville Theatre

Tickets are available now.

For more information click here for Angélique Kidjo’s Facebook page.
 

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