Me In a Minute: Angelique Kidjo

Monday June 21, 2010

(From Sunday Times Magazine)

I’m excited that my continent is going to be in the media around the world for all the right reasons, not for war or violence or all those nasty things people have come to “expect” from Africa. This time it’s about celebrating a sport that brings people together.

It’s amazing to see how far South Africa has come as a nation and for Africa too. If we put all our resources together, we can move forward. I’m not talking financial resources. I’m talking human resource – our hearts, our minds. South Africa still has a long way to go, though, because of the safety issues and the inequality in the spread of wealth. But I’m hopeful that the country can continue to set an example for what we all can achieve in Africa.

I’m a huge soccer fan. I used to play with my brothers. I haven’t played in a long time, though. In fact, my mom said to me when I was a teenager that I can’t keep playing with the boys anymore. But my father used to coach me and he was excited at the idea of me playing because he said it taught me a huge lesson – about teamwork, and that’s what life is about.

Before I became a full-time singer and performer, I used to work in a hair salon. I was in school and the job helped me get through, pay my rent. I made a promise to my parents when I left Benin that I would not take to prostitution in order to get by.

Something many people won’t know about me is that I love to cook. I cook different kinds of food. It’s like music, if I’m feeling inspired, I put all the stuff together and I do it. I cook African, Thai, everything. I think it comes from my mom. She was very resourceful because we weren’t a wealthy family growing up, but she would always make our meals taste like a million bucks.

Just before I step onto the stage, to calm the nerves, I like to iron my own stuff. I don’t like doing makeup, but it really relaxes me at times. I can’t stand it when people get in my hair before my performances, unless it’s someone close to me. I like to get into the zone before the show. It’s important for me to focus on not getting stressed.

To read the original article online click here

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