"Your brain is your greatest weapon..."

Lately, I have been reminiscing a little about my early travels to South Africa with an old friend I met while there. It’s a very long story how, but a few years later, we happened to find ourselves watching Angelique Kidjo on stage.

Kidjo (born Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo) was born in what is now Benin, into a family of performing artists – her father was a musician, her mother worked as a choreographer and theater director. At age six, Kidjo was performing in her mother’s theater troupe; in her teenage years, she was part of a band with songs that played on national radio. Her parents supported her interest in the arts, but she grew up in a household that prioritized education – when she wanted to drop out of school and work full-time as a singer, her dad would not allow it. He insisted that girls should be educated to understand the broader world. Kidjo went on to study at the CIM, a reputable jazz school in Paris. She then met musician and producer Jean Hébrail, with whom she composed music and eventually married in 1987. From there, she was known for her electrifying voice and boundless charisma. She blends African rhythms with elements of jazz, funk, and world music, creating a sound that is uniquely her own and resonates with audiences worldwide. Truly, from that day seeing her live almost twenty years ago, her energy is palpable even now.

“Your brain is your greatest weapon. Connect it to your heart, and you can go anywhere.” — Angelique Kidjo

Photo Credit: Library of Congress Life under CC0 1.0 DEED

Kidjo became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2002, and traveled across the African continent with her passionate advocacy for girls’ education. Her activism is as integral to her identity as her music, and she fearlessly speaks out against injustice wherever she sees it. She also founded the Batonga Foundation, created with the goal of empowering adolescent girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through her music and her activism, Kidjo continues to ignite the flames of hope and inspiration in the hearts of millions, leaving an indelible mark on the world that will resonate for generations to come! Just imagine that our 3,500+ girl students embody the same fervor for education that Kidjo does because of Impact Network’s commitment to providing quality education. Perhaps years from now, we will look back on these students and recognize them in our leaders, advocates, policymakers, and changemakers.

-Reshma