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Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music
Grammy Award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo is known for her electrifying voice and fearless advocacy work. In this intimate memoir, she reveals how she escaped Communist Africa to make her dreams a reality, and how she's prompting others all around the world to reach for theirs as well.
Born in the West African nation of Benin, Angélique Kidjo grew up surrounded by the rich sounds, rhythms, and storytelling of traditional Beninese culture. When the Communists took over, they silenced her dynamic culture and demanded that she sing in praise of them. In Spirit My Life, My Music, Angélique reveals the details of her dangerous escape into France, and how she rose from poverty to become a Grammy Award–winning artist and an international sensation at the top of Billboard's World Albums chart. She also explains why it's important to give back by sharing stories from her work as a UNICEF ambassador and as founder of the Batonga Foundation, which gives African girls access to education.
Desmond Tutu has contributed the foreword to this remarkable volume; Alicia Keys has provided an introduction. Her eloquent, inspiring narrative is paired with more than one hundred colorful photographs documenting Angélique's life and experiences, as well as a sampling of recipes that has sustained her on her remarkable odyssey.
Born in the West African nation of Benin, Angélique Kidjo grew up surrounded by the rich sounds, rhythms, and storytelling of traditional Beninese culture. When the Communists took over, they silenced her dynamic culture and demanded that she sing in praise of them. In Spirit My Life, My Music, Angélique reveals the details of her dangerous escape into France, and how she rose from poverty to become a Grammy Award–winning artist and an international sensation at the top of Billboard's World Albums chart. She also explains why it's important to give back by sharing stories from her work as a UNICEF ambassador and as founder of the Batonga Foundation, which gives African girls access to education.
Desmond Tutu has contributed the foreword to this remarkable volume; Alicia Keys has provided an introduction. Her eloquent, inspiring narrative is paired with more than one hundred colorful photographs documenting Angélique's life and experiences, as well as a sampling of recipes that has sustained her on her remarkable odyssey.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2013
14 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 23, 2016
Angelique Kidjo has been one of my favourite singers since my days of writing about World music (a term she and Miriam Makeba despise) as a journalist. She's won a couple of Grammies, and as this book makes clear she is singer, a musician, of great depth. She's not in any way related to a pop princess who are just flavour of the month and whose talents mostly rely on not too many clothes and a great deal of production. .
Not that Angelique despises production. Quite the contrary, she's very precise about who she wants to produce her songs, and will call in people from all over the world to get the rhythms and vibes she seeks. Arguably her version of Gershwin's Summertime given it's African flavour is the best ever.
The first section of the book is about Angelique's interesting childhood in a liberal, feminist household in Benin and her development as a singer. Most of the rest of the book is about Angelique the singer, how she made records, where she made them, her inspirations and other musicians. It really helps if you know who she is talking about and can hear the different rhythms and genres of music in your head. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the book so much if I hadn't been familiar with most of them.
Angelique travels from Benin to her base in France, thence to America, Jamaica, Latin America and Cuba among other countries and traces the roots of the music in Africa, especially the drums. In Cuba, they have kept the words in one ritual song alive for centuries but never knew what they meant. Angelique did and translated it for them.
The last quarter of the book is about Angelique's involvement as a UN Ambassador in Africa, mostly trying to raise the status of women. One of the most interesting things was that in one country, goitre (hypothyroidsm) is endemic (as it is in areas of South Wales where I am from). This is due to lack of iodine in the diet and easily cured by adding iodine to salt. There is a small device costing a single dollar that will change the colour of salt in the presence of iodine so that women can buy it and make sure they are getting what they need. Salt purveyors also buy it to show that they are selling iodised salt. Such a simple and cheap treatment, but not a 'sexy' newsworthy one that the journalist flock out to Africa and do documentaries on.
The last section of the book is back to Angelique's personal life again. She was very attached to her father and when he died and made her promise to not stop singing, she had to sing that same night in Finland. She did, but could not do an encore. She explained to the crowd that her father had died that morning and she couldn't sing an encore. The whole crowed stood up in sympathy. It was very moving to read.
I've seen Angelique on stage. She's not so much beautiful as really unique looking, small and very curvy and muscular and as strong a dancer as she is a powerful singer. If you've never heard her sing anything, Naima (and ode to her daughter who is mixed race as her French husband is white) sung with Santana is a good place to start. Here's the Youtube video. Also Agolo, which is one of my favourite songs. This video is of a performance on British tv. The opening of the song always brings out goose pimples on my arms, it's so powerful. In real life where the stage was much better, her dancing and that of her backing singers filled it. If you click on it, I hope you enjoy it.
GR deleting books and reviews again
Not that Angelique despises production. Quite the contrary, she's very precise about who she wants to produce her songs, and will call in people from all over the world to get the rhythms and vibes she seeks. Arguably her version of Gershwin's Summertime given it's African flavour is the best ever.
The first section of the book is about Angelique's interesting childhood in a liberal, feminist household in Benin and her development as a singer. Most of the rest of the book is about Angelique the singer, how she made records, where she made them, her inspirations and other musicians. It really helps if you know who she is talking about and can hear the different rhythms and genres of music in your head. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the book so much if I hadn't been familiar with most of them.
Angelique travels from Benin to her base in France, thence to America, Jamaica, Latin America and Cuba among other countries and traces the roots of the music in Africa, especially the drums. In Cuba, they have kept the words in one ritual song alive for centuries but never knew what they meant. Angelique did and translated it for them.
The last quarter of the book is about Angelique's involvement as a UN Ambassador in Africa, mostly trying to raise the status of women. One of the most interesting things was that in one country, goitre (hypothyroidsm) is endemic (as it is in areas of South Wales where I am from). This is due to lack of iodine in the diet and easily cured by adding iodine to salt. There is a small device costing a single dollar that will change the colour of salt in the presence of iodine so that women can buy it and make sure they are getting what they need. Salt purveyors also buy it to show that they are selling iodised salt. Such a simple and cheap treatment, but not a 'sexy' newsworthy one that the journalist flock out to Africa and do documentaries on.
The last section of the book is back to Angelique's personal life again. She was very attached to her father and when he died and made her promise to not stop singing, she had to sing that same night in Finland. She did, but could not do an encore. She explained to the crowd that her father had died that morning and she couldn't sing an encore. The whole crowed stood up in sympathy. It was very moving to read.
I've seen Angelique on stage. She's not so much beautiful as really unique looking, small and very curvy and muscular and as strong a dancer as she is a powerful singer. If you've never heard her sing anything, Naima (and ode to her daughter who is mixed race as her French husband is white) sung with Santana is a good place to start. Here's the Youtube video. Also Agolo, which is one of my favourite songs. This video is of a performance on British tv. The opening of the song always brings out goose pimples on my arms, it's so powerful. In real life where the stage was much better, her dancing and that of her backing singers filled it. If you click on it, I hope you enjoy it.
GR deleting books and reviews again
Read
December 5, 2020▫️SPIRIT RISING: My Life, My Music by Angélique Kidjo with Rachel Wenrick, 2014.
#ReadTheWorld21 📍Benin
A joyful and heartfelt memoir by musician and singer, Angélique Kidjo. She shares generous details about her childhood growing up in Cotonou, Benin, her early days singing with her mother, growing up in a large family, and the beginnings of her now legendary career as a recording artist, human rights activist, and UNICEF ambassador.
Starting in Benin, she began singing at age 6, and her music career skyrocketed when she moved to Paris with her brother as a late teen. She collaborated with a number of other artists, getting the attention of major record labels. She also met her partner and started a family in France, and embarked on many world tours, taking her to Europe, Asia, North and South America, and all over Africa. She took a special interest in tracing West African musical and rhythmic roots through African Diaspora, and traveled and collaborated extensively in Brazil, the Caribbean, and the US.
Kidjo has an effervescent spirit and big heart that comes across in all of her stories. She shares many of her musical influences, the dozens of fellow musicians she has worked with over the decades, her Grammy wins, and her work throughout all of Africa on human rights, public health, and education for girls.
🎶 Lyrics to many of her songs are throughout the book - translations of French and Fon.
One particular song, written for her young daughter, Naïma, "Fifa" ("Peace" in Fon):
Sousou towé nin yon looo
O djidido wè n'bio nou wé
Afotowé didé nin yon looo
Bonou wiwa towé ninon té
Wherever your feet take you
I always pray that in the face of danger
My love and guidance will save you from harm
Richly detailed with photographs and Beninese textile patterns, as well as a whole appendix of Angélique's favorite Beninese recipes - crab curry, yam fufu, and spice mixes! This memoir was a great way to learn more about this fascinating artist, and about her country.
#ReadTheWorld21 📍Benin
A joyful and heartfelt memoir by musician and singer, Angélique Kidjo. She shares generous details about her childhood growing up in Cotonou, Benin, her early days singing with her mother, growing up in a large family, and the beginnings of her now legendary career as a recording artist, human rights activist, and UNICEF ambassador.
Starting in Benin, she began singing at age 6, and her music career skyrocketed when she moved to Paris with her brother as a late teen. She collaborated with a number of other artists, getting the attention of major record labels. She also met her partner and started a family in France, and embarked on many world tours, taking her to Europe, Asia, North and South America, and all over Africa. She took a special interest in tracing West African musical and rhythmic roots through African Diaspora, and traveled and collaborated extensively in Brazil, the Caribbean, and the US.
Kidjo has an effervescent spirit and big heart that comes across in all of her stories. She shares many of her musical influences, the dozens of fellow musicians she has worked with over the decades, her Grammy wins, and her work throughout all of Africa on human rights, public health, and education for girls.
🎶 Lyrics to many of her songs are throughout the book - translations of French and Fon.
One particular song, written for her young daughter, Naïma, "Fifa" ("Peace" in Fon):
Sousou towé nin yon looo
O djidido wè n'bio nou wé
Afotowé didé nin yon looo
Bonou wiwa towé ninon té
Wherever your feet take you
I always pray that in the face of danger
My love and guidance will save you from harm
Richly detailed with photographs and Beninese textile patterns, as well as a whole appendix of Angélique's favorite Beninese recipes - crab curry, yam fufu, and spice mixes! This memoir was a great way to learn more about this fascinating artist, and about her country.
September 6, 2013
When I received an advance reading copy of SPIRIT RISING, I knew absolutely nothing about either the life or the music of Angelique Kidjo. While I have yet to hear her sing, I now count myself among the fans of this remarkable artist and activist. Angelique's personal success story of overcoming obstacles and defying stereotypes is as inspiring as her commitment to uniting diverse musical styles while raising global respect for Africa's contributions to contemporary culture.
April 12, 2014
I first heard Angelique Kidjo on NPR and thought her biography might be interesting. But, what a great surprise this was. Most biographies have a few black and white photos in the center. This is a gorgeous full color, glossy coffee table book. The chapter dividers are beautiful prints of African fabric. The attention to detail is amazing. Every page is beautifully put together.
The most amazing thing is that, after reading this, I feel like I know Angelique. I have heard that, at her concerts, the audience comes up on stage to sing and dance with her. Now I know why. She is a true artist and a warm human being whose goal is to share her music and love of Africa.
I have been listening to her music on Youtube and become a real fan.
The most amazing thing is that, after reading this, I feel like I know Angelique. I have heard that, at her concerts, the audience comes up on stage to sing and dance with her. Now I know why. She is a true artist and a warm human being whose goal is to share her music and love of Africa.
I have been listening to her music on Youtube and become a real fan.
December 23, 2016
Angélique Kidjo uses her world-renowned singer-songwriter voice to empower; she is a wise, humanitarian truth-teller. And her music is captivatingly joyful. Read her book to learn about her family, advocacy work and rich, culturally-sensitive world-wide music career. Visually stunning personal photos are interspersed throughout and her favorite recipes are included in the back.
I dove into this book after reading Swing Time by Zadie Smith. This has been an illuminating, complementary follow-up for the shared topic of educational opportunities for girls in Africa and themes of rhythm and dance. I’m comparing Kidjo’s nonfiction memoir to Smith’s latest fictional novel. Angélique Kidjo’s memoir shares real-life wisdom about music’s power to transcend language barriers and insight for the diversity of rhythms throughout the African continent. She also explains many of the challenges for girls in Africa, including the widespread lack of educational support. She has traveled to many different countries in Africa as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and co-founder of the Batonga Foundation for Girls’ Education in Africa.
A quote from her book:
“We created the Batonga Foundation to give girls access to a secondary education, so they can become leaders and change Africa. The solution to Africa’s problems must be provided by Africans who’ve experienced them firsthand, especially the African women who are the continent’s backbone.”
By contrast, the fictional book Swing Time by Zadie Smith includes a fictional Australian music popstar who decides to fund a girls’ school somewhere in Africa; her commitment is questioned because she doesn’t holistically address the infrastructure of the school nor the students’ needs. Swing Time by Zadie Smith is a coming-of-age story with clever, searing insights about friendship, race, class and more. It’s also filled with serendipitous truth & wit and framed in vivid reflections of cultural icons and dance perfection.
I’m so glad to have read both of these books!
I wrote a blog article to celebrate Angélique Kidjo's advocacy, book-memoir & her music, http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2016/12...
I dove into this book after reading Swing Time by Zadie Smith. This has been an illuminating, complementary follow-up for the shared topic of educational opportunities for girls in Africa and themes of rhythm and dance. I’m comparing Kidjo’s nonfiction memoir to Smith’s latest fictional novel. Angélique Kidjo’s memoir shares real-life wisdom about music’s power to transcend language barriers and insight for the diversity of rhythms throughout the African continent. She also explains many of the challenges for girls in Africa, including the widespread lack of educational support. She has traveled to many different countries in Africa as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and co-founder of the Batonga Foundation for Girls’ Education in Africa.
A quote from her book:
“We created the Batonga Foundation to give girls access to a secondary education, so they can become leaders and change Africa. The solution to Africa’s problems must be provided by Africans who’ve experienced them firsthand, especially the African women who are the continent’s backbone.”
By contrast, the fictional book Swing Time by Zadie Smith includes a fictional Australian music popstar who decides to fund a girls’ school somewhere in Africa; her commitment is questioned because she doesn’t holistically address the infrastructure of the school nor the students’ needs. Swing Time by Zadie Smith is a coming-of-age story with clever, searing insights about friendship, race, class and more. It’s also filled with serendipitous truth & wit and framed in vivid reflections of cultural icons and dance perfection.
I’m so glad to have read both of these books!
I wrote a blog article to celebrate Angélique Kidjo's advocacy, book-memoir & her music, http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2016/12...
March 25, 2014
As a fan of her music, the book does provide some insight into her being, like what sparked her to write certain songs, what musical artists inspired her to pursue a career in entertainment, etc. Angélique Kidjo has lived a charmed life, relatively speaking. She comes from a solid family that was very supportive and encouraging. While growing up in Benin, she was able to have access to James Brown and Aretha Franklin, whom she says is the first woman she ever saw on an album cover.
Readers will find enjoyment in her story as you follow her from child to international recording star. One can appreciate her tenacity in maintaining her cultural voice and speaking it the world. Too often, artists get turned into marketing machines and what starts out as wanting to bring your particular music to the world stage gets lost in all the expert "advice." She never lets African music take a back seat to any other music from around the world. She asserts the validity of the music and certainly all readers root for one who fights for their truth.
The book itself is beautifully designed with plenty of pictures and the pages are akin to those found in art books. She even includes some of her favorite recipes at the end of the book, the only thing lacking was a complete discography!
Readers will find enjoyment in her story as you follow her from child to international recording star. One can appreciate her tenacity in maintaining her cultural voice and speaking it the world. Too often, artists get turned into marketing machines and what starts out as wanting to bring your particular music to the world stage gets lost in all the expert "advice." She never lets African music take a back seat to any other music from around the world. She asserts the validity of the music and certainly all readers root for one who fights for their truth.
The book itself is beautifully designed with plenty of pictures and the pages are akin to those found in art books. She even includes some of her favorite recipes at the end of the book, the only thing lacking was a complete discography!
January 24, 2014
I have been a huge fan of Angelique Kidjo for many years and have even been fortunate to see her perform live twice. She is such a vibrant, warm, talented musician that you can't help but fall in love with her personality and talent. Unfortunately, as much as I was a fan of her, I knew very little about where she came from, and so I was extremely excited when I saw that she had a book coming out. This book was everything I had hoped it would be. It gave me a window into the life of a woman that I've idolized for years. It gave me the opportunity to learn about her upbringing, culture, and the meaning of many of the songs I've grown to love. There is a lot in this book explaining the importance West Africa has played in the global music scene, and provides some incredible insight into the history of slavery and voodoo. I loved every part of this book, and found it nearly impossible to put down, which is why I read it much faster than I normally read any book. I love this book and would recommend it to anybody, even if you have never heard Angelique sing. She is a fierce, strong woman that everyone will love.
October 28, 2014
Spirit Rising was just fantastic – I rarely read biographies, but I just had to read Angélique’s! I learnt so much more about her life – about how her career began in Benin but that she had to flee to Paris where she tried to break into the music scene whilst living in some questionable accommodation, about the meanings behind the albums of hers that I love; how she went around the world to find out about the links between genres and styles of music – particularly those with African roots – about her marriage and the birth of her daughter and about the work she has done on behalf of UNICEF and her own foundation. I couldn’t put the book down and I have to admit I cried a little when I finished it – I was sad to say goodbye to my insight into the world of one of my role models. If you are into music and interested in Angelique Kidjo then book is a must read, you will learn so much about the history of ‘World Music’ (in ‘-‘ because I don’t like the term – all music is from the World!) and it’s a good book to read to learn about an inspirational woman!
April 11, 2016
Angélique Kidjo, if you've not heard of her, is an incredible singer from Benin, West Africa. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the book, by which I mean the quality of the physical product. It's printed on nice glossy paper, is loaded with photographs, and even has an appendix with some recipes that I definitely want to try. It's also a book well worth reading--she's a strong, motivated, incredibly talented woman who is dedicated to creating positive change in Africa. I recommend her music and her book.
February 8, 2014
This book had a good balance of both Angelique's life and music, and I loved learning more about both. I especially was interested in learning about Benin under Communism and about her family's traditions. The writing is true to her voice, the photos are beautiful, and the message is important. I'm a bigger Angelique Kidjo fan for reading this!
December 31, 2024
I loved learning about Angelique’s passion for music, as well as the culture and beliefs of Benin! The book does a beautiful job of explaining the musical traditions of Benin but also Africa in general. You get a feel for Kidjo’s passion for music and how music has the power to connect people!
I learned a lot about jazz music and West African music traditions. Kidjo also explores other countries around the world and their music traditions to create traditional music mixed with the new. She crossed the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America.
I also loved hearing about her advocacy work and how passionate she is about social justice. I had never heard of Kidjo before but the book introduced me to a whole new world of music to explore! The book also contains photos of her performances, her family, and the people she’s worked with. Plus in the back of the book are delicious recipes 🤤
Now the technical writing style aspects are the only reason this wasn’t 5 stars. The chapters were too long for my taste and writing style wise the stories kept bouncing all over the place and often times left me confused. I also felt like the epilogue was cut off the way it ended.
Overall it was a passionate memoir about Kidjo’s music and advocacy! I learned a lot and I’m very glad to have read this for Benin 🇧🇯
TW/CW: slavery, colonialism, racism, pregnancy, death, child death, death of parent, grief, trafficking, rape, cancer chronic illness
“My dad was a Fon, which is the main ethnic group in Benin, and my mom is a Yoruba, another important one with roots in Nigeria. The Fon and Yoruba have very similar gods, but with different names.”
“Parakou is the biggest city in the north of Benin, but having grown up in the south, I had never set foot in the north of my country. In order to maintain power, the colonizers made sure that we stayed divided. When Benin gained independence, tensions grew between the south and the north. Just as in many other African countries where one ethnic group has been favored, the people in the north didn't have political power, so their interests weren't taken into account.”
“This conflict between tradition and modernity is felt all over the continent. The question is always how we can we find a third path-one where tradition is adapted to today's world without losing its identity.”
October 26, 2015
Quote
My ancestors on my father's side came from the village of Ouidah, not far from the Atlantic Ocean, and just a few dozen miles from Cotonou. My family are descendants of the Pedah, a tribe of fishermen who cast their nets all along the magnificent, immaculate beach that goes on for miles and miles. Ouidah holds a tragic place in history. It was from there that so many slaves were forced to leave their continent for the Americas. (p.25)
End of quote
Quote
My dad was a Fon, which is the main ethnic group in Benin, and my mom is a Yoruba, another important one with roots in Nigeria....Having a Fon dad and a Yoruba mom put me in a special place. It gave me access to so much culture and music. (pp. 28-29)
End of quote
Your voice doesn't belong to you. You have the responsibility to care for it and use it for those who are voiceless.
Jerry Rawlings
I said to the girls, Let's invent a word the boys won't be able to understand. That's when I made up the word batonga, which for us meant Give me a break. I'll do what I want. I can be who I want to be.
Angelique, this is James Brown. Say it loud! I answered, I'm black and proud! Then he screamed,
Soul power!(p.92)
Quote
In Benin, drums are at the center of the music. Everything revolves around them. Their impact on your body is like a heartbeat. (p.113)
End of quote
Quote
Music is often that spontaneous in Africa. It exists in the present moment and everyone participates. There is no separation between musician and audience. That's what's so difficult with traditional African music - to really understand its power you have to experience it. You have to see it. You have to be present in the moment that it's made. That's why I always go out into the crowd during my shows, and it's why I have the audience come onstage. I want them to feel that experience. (p.125)
End of quote
Henri Salvador's voice:
Imagine
The world as a baby
Give it much caress and
Forgiveness
He listened to my voice. Then he said, In the studio, you have to breathe like this for people not to hear. He showed me how he exhaled through his mouth and inhaled through his nose at the same time. When he sang, you couldn't even feel when he was breathing. It is something I still use to this day. (p.187)
Quote
Whenever I go back to my home continent, the strength of the people reminds me of the importance of life. They live under hard circumstances and are still able to laugh, to enjoy life to a certain extent. It's mot like the Western world. Here, we live in fear of what we might lose. There, because of what is lost every day, you live in the moment. If I don't remember that, I can't help anyone. It's about honoring people's dignity; it's not about pity. Pity only brings you pain. (p. 212)
End of quote
My ancestors on my father's side came from the village of Ouidah, not far from the Atlantic Ocean, and just a few dozen miles from Cotonou. My family are descendants of the Pedah, a tribe of fishermen who cast their nets all along the magnificent, immaculate beach that goes on for miles and miles. Ouidah holds a tragic place in history. It was from there that so many slaves were forced to leave their continent for the Americas. (p.25)
End of quote
Quote
My dad was a Fon, which is the main ethnic group in Benin, and my mom is a Yoruba, another important one with roots in Nigeria....Having a Fon dad and a Yoruba mom put me in a special place. It gave me access to so much culture and music. (pp. 28-29)
End of quote
Your voice doesn't belong to you. You have the responsibility to care for it and use it for those who are voiceless.
Jerry Rawlings
I said to the girls, Let's invent a word the boys won't be able to understand. That's when I made up the word batonga, which for us meant Give me a break. I'll do what I want. I can be who I want to be.
Angelique, this is James Brown. Say it loud! I answered, I'm black and proud! Then he screamed,
Soul power!(p.92)
Quote
In Benin, drums are at the center of the music. Everything revolves around them. Their impact on your body is like a heartbeat. (p.113)
End of quote
Quote
Music is often that spontaneous in Africa. It exists in the present moment and everyone participates. There is no separation between musician and audience. That's what's so difficult with traditional African music - to really understand its power you have to experience it. You have to see it. You have to be present in the moment that it's made. That's why I always go out into the crowd during my shows, and it's why I have the audience come onstage. I want them to feel that experience. (p.125)
End of quote
Henri Salvador's voice:
Imagine
The world as a baby
Give it much caress and
Forgiveness
He listened to my voice. Then he said, In the studio, you have to breathe like this for people not to hear. He showed me how he exhaled through his mouth and inhaled through his nose at the same time. When he sang, you couldn't even feel when he was breathing. It is something I still use to this day. (p.187)
Quote
Whenever I go back to my home continent, the strength of the people reminds me of the importance of life. They live under hard circumstances and are still able to laugh, to enjoy life to a certain extent. It's mot like the Western world. Here, we live in fear of what we might lose. There, because of what is lost every day, you live in the moment. If I don't remember that, I can't help anyone. It's about honoring people's dignity; it's not about pity. Pity only brings you pain. (p. 212)
End of quote
September 24, 2016
I happened to hear Angelique Kidjo on NPR and was so impressed by her thoughtfulness and compassion that I immediately went and got her memoir. I'd not heard of her before and was unaware of her success as a singer.
A Grammy award-winning singer from Benin (Dahomey), Kidjo is an intelligent, passionate and inspiring woman. While the memoir is mostly about Kidjo's rise to musical fame and her interactions with celebrities such as Eric Clapton, Ziggy Marley, and Alicia Keyes, the essence of her memoir is her love of family, of her community, and of human rights.
One of my favorite passages is when she describes the death of her money-hungry grandmother. Several days after the grandmother's death, the family assembled before the armoire where she had been saving her money for years. "All the bills had crumbled to dust. The absurdity of that moment imprinted itself on me." This moment and this realization led to Kudjo's involvement as a UNICEF ambassador and human rights activist, and her founding of the Batanga Foundation, which works to promote education for African girls.
In another section, Kudjo discusses female genital mutilation. She stresses that the practice is practiced as a rite of passage and an important cultural symbol. Therefore, she says, we can't just condemn it but must find "a new rite to replace it.... a ceremonial cutting .... to say that the tradition is respected." This makes so much sense, and is an idea I'd not heard before.
This is a wonderful book by a really amazing lady.
A Grammy award-winning singer from Benin (Dahomey), Kidjo is an intelligent, passionate and inspiring woman. While the memoir is mostly about Kidjo's rise to musical fame and her interactions with celebrities such as Eric Clapton, Ziggy Marley, and Alicia Keyes, the essence of her memoir is her love of family, of her community, and of human rights.
One of my favorite passages is when she describes the death of her money-hungry grandmother. Several days after the grandmother's death, the family assembled before the armoire where she had been saving her money for years. "All the bills had crumbled to dust. The absurdity of that moment imprinted itself on me." This moment and this realization led to Kudjo's involvement as a UNICEF ambassador and human rights activist, and her founding of the Batanga Foundation, which works to promote education for African girls.
In another section, Kudjo discusses female genital mutilation. She stresses that the practice is practiced as a rite of passage and an important cultural symbol. Therefore, she says, we can't just condemn it but must find "a new rite to replace it.... a ceremonial cutting .... to say that the tradition is respected." This makes so much sense, and is an idea I'd not heard before.
This is a wonderful book by a really amazing lady.
May 8, 2014
And the spirit shall rise ever more and stay rising always and for forever. As with Keeping Hope Alive this is a book by a beautiful woman and I don't mean appearances. She has a beautiful soul, a beautiful mind and a beautiful body. She is warm, generous, spirited, truthful and she has known all the joys and pains there are in this world. She will keep rising and she will keep taking us with her and even when we all learn love together we shall keep rising. When we make earth as beautiful as heaven and when we all learn to sing and to dance together we will have women like Angelique, Wangari and Hawa guiding us all the way.
February 16, 2015
A wonderful insightful biography into the life of a woman that has transformed music from Africa. It is amazing to note that some artists are born that way from the womb....moving, dancing, singing, performing - and it cannot be suppressed like in Angelique. I love the charitable work that she is doing with the Batonga Foundation. I wish more high-profile artists and performers would follow suit.
June 16, 2024
This woman is amazing! I really enjoyed reading about her passion for music, Africa and social justice, which shines through in everything she does. It's not the best memoir I've read, I found some parts a bit simple and repetitive. However, it's incredibly inspirational and worth a read, especially for music lovers.
June 23, 2024
Whoever has seen Angélique Kidjó on stage knows that she’s a queen. Her voice is sublime and, as a performer, she has incredible, powerful energy that can fill a stadium. She is one of the biggest stars to come from Benin and published her autobiography in 2013.
The foreword comes from such notable people as Desmond Tutu and Alicia Keyes. The story of Angélique is narrated in the first person, from her childhood in Cotonou and her first steps as a singer, all the way to her conquering the world stage. She lived in a supportive, liberal household of several brothers and sisters with people coming and going all the time. Her mother was a progressive feminist (and performer), which was very rare at the time. Angélique’s childhood and growing up in Cotonou did not only bring music to her life, but also brought her awakening to social change and empowerment. She escapes the regime in Benin and the second part of the book is about her musical journey in Paris and the world. It takes her from very humble and tough beginnings to becoming a star – a journey accompanied by her husband, Jean. The story includes encounters with many stars and other people, trips back to a changed Benin and becoming a mother. Later in the book she describes her activism, especially focused on girls’ access to education in Africa and fighting against female genital mutilation.
“Often on my trips as an ambassador, mothers will come up to me and ask for help. They can’t afford to provide for their children. This is heartrending because you know the next day you’ll be gone, off to a different place with a different agenda, and, as crucial as it is, your advocacy work won’t have an immediate effect on their lives. I’ve always felt torn between the need to speak on a subject that would increase society’s awareness of the problem that the women and their daughters’ face, and wanting to help them directly. The more I traveled the more I felt this frustration. How could I be an advocate and, at the same time, make a difference in the lives of the girls I meet?”
Angélique’s autobiography achieves a wonderful combination of being interesting, compelling and inspiring, all at the same time. The book carries a similar energy to her concerts and music. The most powerful section of the book is the last part – Angélique’s travels to Africa, meeting with raped women in refugee camps, and reprimanding the government in a concert in Zimbabwe. When she meets African women they tell her “When you’re back in your countries and you talk about us, don’t present us as victims but as strong women, as complete women, like you, fighting for our future. We don’t want to be perceived as victims forever.”
I read this book as part of our project Virtual Nomad that explores and celebrates food, writing, cinema and music from different countries. www.myvirtualnomad.com
The foreword comes from such notable people as Desmond Tutu and Alicia Keyes. The story of Angélique is narrated in the first person, from her childhood in Cotonou and her first steps as a singer, all the way to her conquering the world stage. She lived in a supportive, liberal household of several brothers and sisters with people coming and going all the time. Her mother was a progressive feminist (and performer), which was very rare at the time. Angélique’s childhood and growing up in Cotonou did not only bring music to her life, but also brought her awakening to social change and empowerment. She escapes the regime in Benin and the second part of the book is about her musical journey in Paris and the world. It takes her from very humble and tough beginnings to becoming a star – a journey accompanied by her husband, Jean. The story includes encounters with many stars and other people, trips back to a changed Benin and becoming a mother. Later in the book she describes her activism, especially focused on girls’ access to education in Africa and fighting against female genital mutilation.
“Often on my trips as an ambassador, mothers will come up to me and ask for help. They can’t afford to provide for their children. This is heartrending because you know the next day you’ll be gone, off to a different place with a different agenda, and, as crucial as it is, your advocacy work won’t have an immediate effect on their lives. I’ve always felt torn between the need to speak on a subject that would increase society’s awareness of the problem that the women and their daughters’ face, and wanting to help them directly. The more I traveled the more I felt this frustration. How could I be an advocate and, at the same time, make a difference in the lives of the girls I meet?”
Angélique’s autobiography achieves a wonderful combination of being interesting, compelling and inspiring, all at the same time. The book carries a similar energy to her concerts and music. The most powerful section of the book is the last part – Angélique’s travels to Africa, meeting with raped women in refugee camps, and reprimanding the government in a concert in Zimbabwe. When she meets African women they tell her “When you’re back in your countries and you talk about us, don’t present us as victims but as strong women, as complete women, like you, fighting for our future. We don’t want to be perceived as victims forever.”
I read this book as part of our project Virtual Nomad that explores and celebrates food, writing, cinema and music from different countries. www.myvirtualnomad.com
March 17, 2014
I saw Angelique kidjo at her Carnegie Hall concert in November of 2010, which she describes in the epilogue to this book. My admiration for her was sealed that night. She has tremendous energy, pride and purpose. She is outspoken (and loud!). Her book filled in many details--probably too many details--about her childhood, exile from Benin, her songs and albums, big singers who inspired her and the causes she supports for African women. It is not beautifully written nor does it have more than a chronological organization. It reads like a Life magazine article. But her spirit comes through, the photos are fun and I liked getting some feeling for the connections between her and Benin and the US and the world concert circuit.
February 5, 2016
A nearly perfect picture of Angelique Kidjo's life and career for now. Wonderful photos and delicious West African recipes. The only reasons why I didn't give full five stars to her autobiography are that as a huge fan I was surprised that she didn't mention a couple of her career's highlights such as South Africa's FIFA World Cup Kick-off Concert and her greatest hits album. As a huge fan of hers I also would have liked to learn more about the meaning and creative process of her songs. She did tell about it more or less on each of her albums but I was missing even more interesting facts behind them :).
March 4, 2014
A pretty good read on a talented and successful musician's life, filled with family, love of humankind, passion for the music, and lots of beautiful photos. And...there are even recipes in the back of the book which I've made while listening to her music!! What a treat.
March 20, 2014
I enjoyed reading about Angelique Kidjo. She is a wonderful person and a great singer, even though I have only one of her CDs I think her music is amazing and I hope in future to acquire more of her music.
February 7, 2016
Although I am not a big fan of autobiography there are a select few i enjoy and this, "Spirit Rising" Angelique story is among them. It is a true testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. She is a wonderfully dynamic woman.
February 19, 2014
One of my favorite performers has written a lovely memoir - ‘music has no color, no language, no boundaries.’
Read
May 12, 2014It was a good autobiography, almost like a coffee table book because of its gorgeous photos. This is good for a music fan.
October 10, 2014
The energy that she was described as exuding did not come through in her writing, which, for me, fell flat.
July 14, 2023
#ReadAroundTheWorld. #Benin
“Don’t let other people draw you away from your own path.”
This is an autobiography of Grammy award-winning musician Angélique Kidjo. It begins with her childhood in the West African nation of Benin in a loving family that encouraged independent speech and ideas, with a father who worked hard to ensure his daughters received an education in a time when it was not popular to do so. Her father was Fon and her mother Yoruba, giving her access to a range of traditions, rhythms and music.
Life became difficult in Benin under a dictatorship and communism when life was very controlled, suspicion reigned and musicians were expected to compose songs in honour of the leader. Kidjo’s family helped her escape to France to further career.
In France she studied music, met and married fellow musician Jean, and generally defied people’s desire to put her into the World Music box.
The book probably gives far too much detail about the various musicians she played with and the different styles and rhythms she experimented with, but I enjoyed some of her thoughts on her music, and her passion for it.
“The thing is, when you sing, you know that the public is there, but you are with yourself, with the intimacy of the song. So for you to touch people’s souls you have to open up yourself. It’s like giving people a mirror to see into your soul. That’s what it is. When you’re singing, even when you’re dancing or smiling, there’s something about you at that moment that you don’t control. It is something holy. It is something deep down.”
“When you feel the music, you forget your worries and discover truths about yourself. Music transcends in a way that makes all negative things seem to disappear. Everything is possible. Everything is revealed.”
“Your voice doesn’t belong to you. You have the responsibility to care for it and use it for those who are voiceless.”
She is also intrigued with the export of African music to the rest of the world, and loved her discoveries of African rhythms in South America and the Caribbean. In Cuba she found an African song passed down for generations with the meaning having been lost, and was able to translate it.
Later in the book Kidjo describes her involvement with UNICEF as an ambassador, her creation of the Batonga foundation and her passion to see African girls given an education.
This book gives the sense of Angélique as a passionate, dynamic woman with a powerful vision for music and to help her people. Sadly the book itself is not quite as dynamic as the author herself.
“Don’t let other people draw you away from your own path.”
This is an autobiography of Grammy award-winning musician Angélique Kidjo. It begins with her childhood in the West African nation of Benin in a loving family that encouraged independent speech and ideas, with a father who worked hard to ensure his daughters received an education in a time when it was not popular to do so. Her father was Fon and her mother Yoruba, giving her access to a range of traditions, rhythms and music.
Life became difficult in Benin under a dictatorship and communism when life was very controlled, suspicion reigned and musicians were expected to compose songs in honour of the leader. Kidjo’s family helped her escape to France to further career.
In France she studied music, met and married fellow musician Jean, and generally defied people’s desire to put her into the World Music box.
The book probably gives far too much detail about the various musicians she played with and the different styles and rhythms she experimented with, but I enjoyed some of her thoughts on her music, and her passion for it.
“The thing is, when you sing, you know that the public is there, but you are with yourself, with the intimacy of the song. So for you to touch people’s souls you have to open up yourself. It’s like giving people a mirror to see into your soul. That’s what it is. When you’re singing, even when you’re dancing or smiling, there’s something about you at that moment that you don’t control. It is something holy. It is something deep down.”
“When you feel the music, you forget your worries and discover truths about yourself. Music transcends in a way that makes all negative things seem to disappear. Everything is possible. Everything is revealed.”
“Your voice doesn’t belong to you. You have the responsibility to care for it and use it for those who are voiceless.”
She is also intrigued with the export of African music to the rest of the world, and loved her discoveries of African rhythms in South America and the Caribbean. In Cuba she found an African song passed down for generations with the meaning having been lost, and was able to translate it.
Later in the book Kidjo describes her involvement with UNICEF as an ambassador, her creation of the Batonga foundation and her passion to see African girls given an education.
This book gives the sense of Angélique as a passionate, dynamic woman with a powerful vision for music and to help her people. Sadly the book itself is not quite as dynamic as the author herself.
January 27, 2019
Kidjo writes with such adoration for her people and her music. It is heartwarming and contagious. She starts off sharing about her childhood, family, and how her singing career started. She gives a brief (and not too political) history lesson in Benin - and why she left.
Then she delves into her music. When Kidjo writes about drums and how they relate to her art, it is a sheer delight. She makes drumming the pulse of a people, and I started to feel that pulse as I read. This idea continues through the entire book.
She bases several chapters on her major albums. In those she shares about her life during that time. She also introduces artists that impacted or participated in her work. In other books, this might feel like name-dropping. Instead with Kidjo, she is sharing how an artist’s work or philosophy impacted her, changed her, grew her music.
Toward the end of the book, she brings in her work with the UN. Again here I expected the writing to turn overtly political or drive a specific call to action. Instead Kidjo’s voice is warm, heartfelt, and still matter of fact. She does not glorify the work of the UN; she does not demonize political factions; she shares what she saw, experiences, and felt. And she shares how she believes her work with the UN, and as an artist, helps.
This book exceeded my expectations in its content and writing. Rachel Wenrick, who wrote with Kidjo, and Kidjo created a book that inspires appreciation in music and action.
Then she delves into her music. When Kidjo writes about drums and how they relate to her art, it is a sheer delight. She makes drumming the pulse of a people, and I started to feel that pulse as I read. This idea continues through the entire book.
She bases several chapters on her major albums. In those she shares about her life during that time. She also introduces artists that impacted or participated in her work. In other books, this might feel like name-dropping. Instead with Kidjo, she is sharing how an artist’s work or philosophy impacted her, changed her, grew her music.
Toward the end of the book, she brings in her work with the UN. Again here I expected the writing to turn overtly political or drive a specific call to action. Instead Kidjo’s voice is warm, heartfelt, and still matter of fact. She does not glorify the work of the UN; she does not demonize political factions; she shares what she saw, experiences, and felt. And she shares how she believes her work with the UN, and as an artist, helps.
This book exceeded my expectations in its content and writing. Rachel Wenrick, who wrote with Kidjo, and Kidjo created a book that inspires appreciation in music and action.
July 2, 2020
It took me awhile to finish reading this engaging, uplifting memoir, as I kept stopping to listen to her music, looking up other musicians and artists she collaborated with, and learning about the aid organizations for women's and educational issues with whom Kidjo partnered. The volume includes gorgeous photographs, many of Kidjo dancing, and each chapter opens with a full color wax cloth print. She ends the book with several recipes for traditional African dishes. I felt my own spirit rising as I read about where she's come from and where she's going -- a much needed boost of hope and agency in a time when the U.S. STILL hasn't passed an anti-lynching bill.
March 17, 2025
So, look, I've never heard of Angelique Kidjo and only picked this book up because I needed an author from Benin and there just isn't much English language literature coming out of that country. But I enjoyed this book and learning about her activism to help the land she left through her music and donations and foundation to help girls gain access to education and stop FGM. I enjoyed it enough to look up her music on youtube, and I enjoyed that, too. This probably won't be one of my favorite books of the year, but I'm still glad I read it.
July 10, 2021
I loved this book - Angélique Kidjo is such an optimistic, empowered and spectacularly talented woman. I loved reading her descriptions of various African music traditions, following the threads of the slave trade across the Atlantic and how thoughtfully she advocates for women’s rights and education for all. The stories of her performances and collaborations with so many talented artists, and the connection she has with her audience is inspiring.
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