Angélique was one of the first names that came to mind when we thought about the project, a voice that we couldn’t do without in this. She said yes without hesitation so it was off to her place in Brooklyn. She is simply a captivating person. When she speaks, you listen. Grammy winner, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, founder of The Batonga Foundation, yes she is all that, but more than that…when she speaks you listen. She engages with passion, conviction, and with wisdom. Born in Benin, she grew up listening to her county’s traditional music, mixed with a healthy dose of Hendrix, James Brown and Otis Reading.
As a singer her influences have ranged from gospel and jazz to Afropop, Caribbean zouk and Congolese rumba, but probably the greatest influence is her engagement with all people and forms around her, whoever and wherever they may be. She is truly a citizen of the world community, and for us, a dream come true to have her make this link to one of her hero’s, Hugh Masekela through the Miriam Makeba classic, “Soweto Blues.”