Angelique Kidjo Teases New Song with Ayra Starr
The Legend Angelique Kidjo teases new song Aye Kan featuring Ayra Starr, dropping on Friday, the 27th of March 2026, and we’re beyond excited. Whether you’ve been following her career for decades or just bumped into her name, Angelique Kidjo is one of the most iconic voices in world music, and joining forces with one of Africa’s brightest young stars is indeed a big deal.
If you don’t know who Angelique Kidjo is, we’ll forgive you only this once, but after this read, we promise that you won’t forget her name again.
The Making of a Legend: Angelique Kidjo’s Early Life
Born in Ouidah, Benin, on July 14, 1960, Angelique Kidjo grew up surrounded by creativity: her father was a musician, and her mother a choreographer and theatre director. By age six, she was performing in her mother’s theatre troupe; by her teenage years, she was singing and composing. Moving to Paris in the early 1980s opened her to global musical styles and collaborations, launching a journey that would redefine how the world hears African music.
Kidjo blends traditional West African rhythms from her native Benin with jazz, funk, Latin, Afro-pop, gospel, and more, often singing in multiple languages, including Fon, Yoruba, French, English, and Gen. Her versatility and fearless experimentation have made her a household name across continents.
Angelique Kidjo’s Grammy Wins and Career Milestones
Angelique Kidjo, true to her trailblazer status, is a five-time Grammy Award winner:
- 2008: Djin Djin — Best Contemporary World Music Album
- 2015: Eve — Best World Music Album
- 2016: Sings — Best World Music Album
- 2020: Celia — Best World Music Album
- 2022: Mother Nature — Best Global Music Album
Beyond awards, she has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages — from Carnegie Hall to the Olympics opening ceremony — and has been recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. She has received the Polar Music Prize and the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award, affirming her influence both as an artist and a global citizen.
Cultural Ambassador and Activist
Kidjo is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the Batonga Foundation, which supports girls’ education across Africa. Her advocacy shows that music can inspire change, empower communities, and educate.
Her songs often tackle identity, freedom, and social issues, demonstrating how music can be joyful while still carrying a powerful message.
Supporting the Next Generation
More than being an icon, Kidjo is also a fan who constantly celebrates emerging African talent. She praised Rema, describing his hit Calm Down as “a unique flow and feel… rooted in Africa but also catchy and virtuosic,” calling him the embodiment of Afrobeats’ global rise. She complimented Burna Boy by telling him, “You really made me listen to my song differently… You are killing them all.” These moments show her respect for the new generation and her ongoing engagement with Africa’s evolving music scene.
The upcoming track with Ayra Starr represents a convergence of decades of influence and fresh talent. This collaboration promises an exciting fusion of experience and contemporary energy, showcasing how African music continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
Angelique Kidjo has shaped the global perception of African music at every stage of her journey. With this new project, she continues to create, uplift, and inspire. Friday’s release is a celebration of African music’s past, present, and future, and we can’t wait for it.
