Angelique Kidjo Concert Reviews and Pictures

Taken at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY 5/6/02 before her concert in the Library Auditorium for WFUV (public Radio) donors.  Angelique's husband Jean is on the far left.   I think the other two guys work with her but I don't know what they do.

In case you were wondering which guy I was.

Fordham University, Bronx NY 5/6/02- by Chris Starace

    There were probably only about 100 people because it was held for contributors to the Radio station only.  They had food before the concert started and Angelique came out for a bite with her band and her husband Jean as well. They were just milling around and surprisingly no one paid them much attention.   I approached her and spoke to her in Fon a little.  I told her that I had met her at a concert in NYC in 1999 and I was the one who lived in Allada, Benin.    I don't know if she remembered me but I'll just assume that she did.   I only got a few sentences in before she was off in another direction.  (Oh well) 

     I did get to speak to her husband Jean for a little longer though..   He said that he met Angelique in a music school in Paris.   I asked him about the languages that she sings in and noted that "Black Ivory Soul" is mostly in Yoruba.   He said that this is because of the Brazilian influence and in Brazil their music and religion has a strong Yoruba influence.   Angelique's Mom is Fon and her Father is Yoruba (or vice versa- I forget)   so she speaks and sings in both languages.   I think there is only one song in Fon on Black Ivory Soul.  In her past albums it has been about half Fon and half Yoruba with English, French and probably some Mina mixed in.    I told Jean about my website Fon is Fun and he excused himself to eat and hang out with his band.   A little while later while when they were sitting outside I got a picture with Angelique.  (see above)

       The concert was great because the venue was so small, however this meant that Angelique couldn't pull anyone up on stage to dance because there was no room.    For the first few songs people sat down but then she got everyone up and dancing for the rest of the concert.    Angelique got off the stage and sang and danced her way up and down the aisle on the second to last song. As always she spoke directly to the audience explained her songs and cracked jokes.  Afterwards she came out and signed album covers.     It lasted a little over an hour with an encore and it was really a lot of fun as are all of her concerts..   

 General Concert Observations from Stace

 Angelique's concerts are always very positive and happy, since she is so involved with the audience. Rather than just getting up there, doing her set and leaving, she engages you. She speaks to her audience, she discusses her songs, she asks people what they want to hear and she MAKES you dance! Inviting people onstage is really a wonderful thing! What I love is it doesn't feel like its just HER concert, it feels like it's just everyone having a great time. I think this is the African mentality with music, it is something to be shared, not just for the performer to do and collect the money for.

 I think a lot of the poorer countries have a view of music very different from America's. We have changed music into a business; it is no longer about sharing and bringing people together, just about making money. What I have found is that in places like Brazil, Africa, the Caribbean, etc... music is something they just do for fun! My neighbors are from Brazil, and recently I performed Ominira at a concert at my school, and they played guitar and congas for me. The idea is that the music isn't yours--it belongs to everyone to enjoy. This really shows with Angelique's performances, and people embrace that mentality. When I did her song, they just loved it!

   October (1998)  Tramps, NY- by Chris Starace

Angelique and her new Oremi album Rock!!  I saw her in concert in  city which was a very small venue.  Maybe 300-400 people (standing room only) so naturally I wormed my way to the front row.  Had I extended my arm I could have touched her and several times she was practically singing in my face.  She was as fantastic as I remember from the concert she gave in Cotonou in ‘97.  Great singing, very energetic and fabulous dancing including her back up singers.  The place was packed and the crowd was really into her music.  It was nice to see so many Americans rocking to Fon tunes. 

    I was screaming things to her in Fon the whole time, but it wasn't until the end when she finally heard me.  I yelled a simple "Kudazo" ( good work) and she said (interrupting what she was saying to the audience but still speaking to everyone)  "AHHH, You speak my language!"  I said, "Enn, un se fongbe bi" (yea, I speak Fon).  She said, "how long were you there?," and I said, "Un ko blo xwe we do Benin" (I was just there for two years).  She said, "Wow, a White American guy who can speak my language!  If he can do it, any one can," and the whole crowd roared because it coincided with her messages of racial integration.  Later when she was singing I was waving the Beninese flag and she took it and danced with it.  She invited a bunch of people up on stage to dance, and I got up twice which was a blast.  She did 2 encores and after the show my friends and I got to meet her back stage.  I Fongbe'd with her a little, she gave me hug and we hung out for a few minutes.  I didn't realize how petite she is until I stood next to her.  She's really a trip- very funny and out going.   She was quite surprised that I could speak Fon and I got the regular "Ehh, Mawu, e se fongbe bi" routine (God, he speaks Fon!...).  I also spoke with her manager who is from Abomey, and I think he is the only other Beninois in her band.  It's kind of a shame if you ask me.   Actually her musicians are from all over the world and they really know how to put on a good show.  Be sure not to miss her when she’s touring again. 

Send me your Angelique Kidjo concert review and I'll post it here.  cstarace@yahoo.com