Grammy-winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo to debut at Carthage festival

Grammy-winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo is set to headline the festival with her debut performance on July 23. Her set is expected to feature songs from her latest album HOPE!!, released in April, alongside selections from her expansive catalog.

Known for her Afro-fusion style, Angélique Kidjo blends traditional Beninese rhythms with Afrobeat, jazz, funk, and contemporary sounds. Her performance is likely to include classics such as “Agolo” and “Afrika,” as well as socially driven works like “Mother Nature,” reflecting themes of environmental and cultural identity.

Tunisia’s Carthage Festival spotlights Angélique Kidjo, global stars

Tunisia’s historic city of Carthage is hosting the 60th edition of the Carthage International Festival from July 16 to August 19, featuring a diverse lineup of global artists with a strong emphasis on African and Middle Eastern music.

Held annually at the city’s iconic Roman amphitheater, the festival remains one of Tunisia’s premier cultural events, bringing together performers from Africa, the Arab world, Europe, and the Americas. This year’s program includes 19 concerts, with seven international performances spanning artists from the United States, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Benin.

A global mix of performers

The festival’s international lineup also includes legendary pop group The Jacksons, who performed on July 20, marking more than three decades since Michael Jackson’s historic visit to Tunisia.

Other featured acts include British-Iranian artist Sami Yusuf, Italian ensemble Rondo Veneziano, Spain’s Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, and Algerian raï icon Cheb Khaled.

Sustaining cultural legacy

As one of North Africa’s most prominent cultural platforms, the Carthage International Festival continues to serve as a bridge between global music traditions and regional audiences. Following her Tunisia appearance, Kidjo, also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, is expected to continue her international tour, reinforcing her role as one of Africa’s most influential musical voices.

Angélique Kidjo’s global influence

Angélique Kidjo has built a decades-long career that blends African musical traditions with global sounds, establishing herself as one of the most influential artists to emerge from the continent. Born in Benin around 1960, she has earned five Grammy Awards and a Polar Music Prize, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring global relevance.

Angélique Kidjo’s collaborations with international stars such as Alicia Keys, Burna Boy, and Yo-Yo Ma have reinforced her cross-cultural appeal, while her performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games opening ceremony further cemented her global stature. Recognized by Time magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2021, Kidjo continues to shape music and advocacy worldwide.

Fluent in multiple languages and known for incorporating traditional Beninese vocal techniques into her work, she remains a powerful cultural ambassador, bridging Africa and the world through music, activism, and artistic innovation.