Angelique Kidjo, born in Benin, resident in New York, is one of Africa’s most charismatic performers. She believes music has the power to change people and packs a punch onstage. Her records, however, have been more erratic. But this one, dedicated to the women of Africa, goes back to the roots and involves nine different choirs from Benin and one from Kenya. Lots of rich vocals, anthemic songs and some illustrious guests, including the Kronos Quartet and Dr John. Most danceable is Kulumbu, on which New Orleans-born Dr John pays homage on guitar and piano to Benin, the real home of voodoo. Most moving is Bana, a song performed with Kidjo’s mother outlining the advantage of friends over money. An unarguable truth.
