In her interview with NPR, Kidjo says Burna Boy now refers to her as “Mom”
Powerhouse songstress Angélique Kidjo is happy that her career has helped pave the way for the success of other artists in Africa, that's why she collaborated with the next generation on her latest album ‘Mother Nature’.
In 2020, when she accepted the award for Best World Music Album for Celia, she promoted the new generation of African artists.
“The new generations of artists coming from Africa are going to take you by storm,” she said. “The time has come.”
The list of artists she brought together for the new album includes Nigerian artist Burna Boy, who also won Grammy in 2021. Many of Mother Nature‘s songs address issues across the world, from climate change to state oppression and police violence.
In her latest interview with NPR, Kidjo says Burna Boy now refers to her as “Mom” and that she wants her music to be like a bullet in the fight against violence and oppression.
Speaking about the urge in African musicians, she said: "They want to be reckoned with. Before, when I go to Africa, it’s all about artists saying to me, “How do I make this? I want to be like you. I want to do this.” Now it’s like, 'I’m doing it.'"
Some of the notable tracks on the new album are 'Do Yourself' which is a song that is written by Burna Boy, 'Dignity,' features Yemi Alade.
On whether opportunities for success in Africa have expanded since she started out; she says that’s a fact. According to her, Burna Boy has not moved anywhere – he’s in Nigeria. Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, Sampa the Great — and the list goes on and on. They are entrepreneurs and big stars in their own right in their own country, making lots of money for themselves.
Kidjo says there's nothing better than home "because home is your sanctuary where people love you and protect you and hold you and carry you and caress you."
