Grammy winner to perform at Emancipation concert

WHEN you think of Emancipation celebrations what comes to mind?

Canboulay, drums, African cuisine?

Well you can now also add, Grammy award, diva and Carnegie Hall.

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, Angelique Kidjo from Benin, West Africa will be in this country to perform at a concert held the night before the Emancipation Day holiday.

The event entitled a “Pan-African Spectacular” has been described as a “fantastic international concert” with “an African mega-star who will top the billing”.

Kidjo, who won the Best Contemporary World Music Album Grammy Award in 2008 for her album Djin Djin  has been deemed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine. 

Listed among the highlights of her career is the fact that Kidjo managed to sell out the internationally renowned Carnegie Hall.

“Kidjo’s internationally acclaimed repertoire includes collaborations with various recording artists such as Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Branford Marsalis, Joss Stone, and many more,” according to kidjo.com. 

“Known for her dynamic and uplifting music, she has translated her distinctive work in the arts to that of philanthropy; by promoting education for girls in Africa through her foundation, Batonga and as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador Kidjo travels the world to inspire and empower,” the official website stated.

Kidjo’s performance is listed among the schedule of events for Emancipation 2013.

It will take place at the revamped Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village on July 31.

The Emancipation Support Committee on Sunday officially launched Emancipation 2013 at the Lion’s Civic Centre located Fitzblackman Drive in Port of Spain.

The hall was packed to capacity with standing room only.

The launch coincided with an international commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity established on May 25, 1963 which was transformed into the African Union in 2002.

This year is the 175th anniversary of the end of chattel slavery in the English-speaking Caribbean and other British colonies at the time.

It is also the 150th anniversary of the end of slavery in the Dutch colonies.

Jeanne Henriquez, a social and cultural activist, and independence advocate from Curacao, who led the fight for, designed, established and is currently the Director of Museo Tula in Curacao was at Sunday’s launch.

Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas who was also at the launch pledged his support to the ESC.