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 places 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 🇧🇯 

“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.”