Mother nature

"With a booming population that is overwhelmingly young, it's only a matter of time before west Africa produces a global pop star as universally renowned as Beyoncé or Prince. When that happens, she or he will owe a big debt to Benin's Angélique Kidjo who, now aged 60, has been a trailblazer for the continent over the course of 14 albums ... On Mother Nature she returns home, collaborating with an array of young voices on an exuberant album couched in contemporary R&B and hip-hop, but laced with traditional flavours. Its focus is both local and universal. "Dignity", alongside Nigeria's Yemi Alade, demands an end to police brutality (...), while the title track addresses the climate crisis. "Free & Equal", featuring Sampa the Great, returns to the principles of the 1776 US Declaration of Independence. Empowerment, unity and joy combine to catchy effect, with the exceptional Kidjo now leader of a new generation".

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"Det er umuligt ikke at blive afropoppet glad i låget af Angélique Kidjos nye album ... På sit album nummer 15 har den 60-årige sangerinde fra Benin slået sine farverige kangaer sammen med et fornemt udvalg af yngre afrikanske musikere, heriblandt Sampa the Great og Burna Boy. Det placerer hende solidt og med korslagte arme i nuet ... Det er samme tro på ungdommen som frontkæmpere for et bedre, mere frit, mindre klimakriseramt og mere respekteret Afrika, der dominerer hendes glimrende femtende album, Mother Nature".

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