Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music

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Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music

Hailed as one of the most inspiring women of our time, musician and activist Angélique Kidjo shares the story of her world in the memoir, Spirit Rising: from the communist regime of her native Benin to her work as a UNICEF Ambassador and activist promoting education for all girls in Africa. Kidjo’s GRAMMY-Award winning music, rich with African rhythms, speaks to her own vibrancy, resilience, and to the hope she carries for the world’s spirit rising. Kidjo brings her electrifying presence to the Library in a special evening of conversation, story and song, where she will perform excerpts from her new CD Eve, before embarking on a world tour.
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Angélique Kidjo

Singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo has been recognized as one of Africa’s "50 most iconic figures" (the BBC) and one of the world’s "100 most inspiring women" (The Guardian). Among the many honors, she received her June 2103 appointment as vice-president of CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers. She now makes her home in Brooklyn, New York, with her family. In 2014, she will follow up the release of her memoir with the release of a new album of original songs distributed by Savoy Records and a world tour.

Lorraine Ali is a writer and journalist who is currently serving as Music Editor for the Los Angeles Times. She was previously a Senior Writer with Newsweek, where she covered culture, music, and the Middle East. Lorraine has written for publications such as the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and GQ and is currently working on a book about the plight of her Iraqi family following the 2003 invasion.