Angelique Kidjo is performing at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi on Saturday, February 3. Sofia and Mauro
Angelique Kidjo is performing at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi on Saturday, February 3. Sofia and Mauro

Angélique Kidjo on mixing her influences



Angélique Kidjo is not renowned for her puritanical approach. On stage, she might sing songs by George Gershwin or Jimi Hendrix alongside traditional melodies from her native Benin.

Hailed as the Queen of African music, the sonorous songstress has long raged at white critics who claim that her work is inauthentic.

Once named one of the world's 100 most influential women by The Guardian, Kidjo's last tour paid tellingly diverse dues to her own heroes: a three-part celebration of African legend Miriam Makeba, American soul great Nina Simone and Cuba's salsa queen Celia Cruz.

But even viewed through this multi-hued prism, Kidjo's latest project remains a hearty head-scratcher: a complete in-concert recreation of rock band Talking Heads' 1980 masterpiece Remain in Light.

Bathing that album's fidgety, urban claustrophobia in a burst of summery euphoria – with help from the horn section of celebrated Afrobeat revivalists Antibalas – the work makes its first appearance outside the United States at New York University Abu Dhabi.

The concept comes wracked with the issues of appropriation and influence that Kidjo, at 57, professes to care little for. Steeped in African polyrhythms, Remain in Light was the product of Talking Heads and producer Brian Eno overdosing on West African grooves – especially Fela Kuti – and repurposing those dense, hypnotic textures through their artily detached New York poise. For Kidjo, the result was a revelation.

Remain in Light was one of the first records the young singer heard when she arrived in Paris in 1983, fleeing Benin's communist regime.

The music was at once familiar and foreign. "It felt both close and far – for me, Remain in Light showed that we are all homo sapiens and that music is in our DNA – and we all come from Africa," says Kidjo, who now lives in New York but is speaking from France, where the fates of tour scheduling have landed her once more. "I wanted to bring Remain in Light back to Africa – because it all started in the part of Africa I come from."

The show will mark Kidjo's fourth live performance of the project – more American gigs are booked around the May 5 release of her version of Remain in Light, the 14th studio album of her 35-year career. During the world premiere, at New York's Carnegie Hall in May last year, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne made an appearance duetting on the centrepiece Once in a Lifetime, music that the Byrne has squarely refused to perform alongside his own bandmates since Talking Heads split in 1991.

Observers praised Kidjo, Byrne less so, and speculated if the performance was truly spontaneous or just made to appear so. In Kidjo’s telling, it began when she received an email from Byrne’s assistant two hours before curtains up, when the elder statesman of cerebral rock couldn’t find a ticket for the sold-out show.

In between breathless laughter, she recalls running around the hallowed venue's corridors, in the middle of her set, trying to hunt down the last-minute VIP box that the hall had stumped up.

"It was very courageous of him to just jump in like that – he hadn't even heard my version of the song," Kidjo recalls. "David Byrne is an artist, fully – he's open. He has a way of saying things which are profoundly true."

The sway that Byrne's voice holds over Kidjo may have to do with more than music. Talking Heads reached the singer at a crossroads in her life – and Remain in Light's flow of energy from the western world to Africa mirrored her own flight in reverse.

Born in Benin's largest city, Cotonou, in 1960, Kidjo grew up in a liberal family. Her mother worked in the theatre, played clarinet and sang, while her father – who played the banjo because "everyone else plays guitar, and where's the fun in that?" – was the proud owner of a record collection that stretched from traditional Yoruba music to contemporary African stars such as Kuti, Makeba and the recently parted Hugh Masekela, slotted alongside James Brown and Stevie Wonder.

"We grew up not knowing how much privilege we had and how unusual it was at that time," she says. "For me, I've always been surrounded in a setting of love, care and curiosity. My father's philosophy was: 'Your brain is your ultimate weapon – use it.' It's not given to you to sit on."

This utopian cocoon of ideas and affection was abruptly shaken following the military coup of 1972, which led to the foundation of the socialist People's Republic of Benin three years later, in place of the post-colonial nation known as the Republic of Dahomey. Kidjo remembers how the communist purge even pierced the family threshold, after her father refused to take a political position.

"He told them: 'I'm a postman, I don't do politics – I don't know nothing about it and I don't want blood on my hands'," Kidjo remembers. "From that moment, he said to us: 'Watch out, you don't know who is your friend anymore. If you don't want me or your mother to end up in jail, your freedom of speech in this home is gone.'

“The warmth I was talking about completely disappeared, because you’re always afraid – even of your own family. The country was transformed into an open jail cell.”

For Kidjo, who was already a regional star, it was crippling for her career. Concerts were subject to permission, as were visits to play in neighbouring nations such as Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Togo. She refused to perform for the heads of state or pen the patriotic anthems they demanded. As pressure mounted, her family hatched an escape plan.

Joining her older brother, who had fled five years earlier, Kidjo was forced to make radical lifestyle readjustments. Rather than a renowned entertainer, in France she was forced to work menial jobs – cleaning hotel rooms, braiding hair, babysitting – while taking gigs as a backing singer.

She saved to fund studies at jazz school Le Cim, where she met future husband Jean Hebrail, who is her musical director on Remain in Light.

Discovered on the Parisian club circuit by Island Records' founder, Chris Blackwell, Kidjo's fortunes changed dramatically with the release of Logozo in 1991. Featuring star saxophonists Branford Marsalis and Manu DiBango, her major-label debut rocketed to the top of the Billboard World Music chart. Recorded at Prince's Paisley Park, follow-up Ayé spawned the single Agolo, which was nominated for Best Music Video at the Grammys in 1994, while Carlos Santana guested on third album Fifa a year later.

Kidjo's music continued to evolve in sonics and scope. Next came a trilogy of LPs – Oremi, Black Ivory Soul and Oyaya! – exploring the African roots of American music, a recurring theme in her work.

A raft of A-list guests joined her on 2007's Djin Djin including Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Ziggy Marley and, perhaps inevitably, Peter Gabriel. The result would win Kidjo her first Grammy; she would pick up a pair more for her two more recent releases – Eve (2014), a tribute to the women of Africa inspired by self-captured field recordings; and the full circle of Sings (2016), backed by Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg and bathing familiar material in glorious orchestrations.

Parallel to these musical milestones have been career landmarks: in 2011, The Guardian placed Kidjo on its list of the world's 100 Most Inspiring Women, while the BBC included her on a list of the continent's 50 Most Iconic Figures. In 2014, Forbes ranked Kidjo among the 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa.

These accolades say as much about Kidjo’s ever-more-visible advocacy work as they do her music. While now based in New York, Kidjo has remained a committed and coherent voice on the problems facing her home continent, since 2002 serving as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador.

In 2007, she founded The Batonga Foundation, a non-profit organisation providing African girls secondary-school and higher education.

"When you're born a girl in Africa, you don't have an identity of yourself," she says. "You are the daughter of your father, who can marry you off to any man he wants."

When we talk, it is just a few days after American president Donald Trump reportedly dismissed African nations in derogatory expletives. Rather than launching into a justifiable tirade, however, Kidjo quietly probes the wider issues.

“We cannot be complacent. We’ve been complacent all the way – that is why this is happening today,” she answers. “If we had been a society that called a lie, a lie – that called bullying, bullying – we wouldn’t be here.

“Our social network brought this to us, so it’s up to us to find a solution and to make a stop of it.

“I’m always a hopeful person, and I think the day is going to come when we wake up and realise working alone is not the answer – working together is the way we make a change.”

Angélique Kidjo performs Remain in Light at the East Plaza, New York University Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, February 3, from 7pm. For tickets and more information, visit www.nyuad-artscenter.org

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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Destroyer

Director: Karyn Kusama

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan

Rating: 3/5 

UAE release: January 31 

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDesign%2C%20multimedia%20and%20creative%20work%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELogo%20design%2C%20website%20design%2C%20visualisations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20and%20professional%20management%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELegal%20or%20management%20consulting%2C%20architecture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20and%20professional%20support%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EResearch%20support%2C%20proofreading%2C%20bookkeeping%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESales%20and%20marketing%20support%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESearch%20engine%20optimisation%2C%20social%20media%20marketing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EData%20entry%2C%20administrative%2C%20and%20clerical%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EData%20entry%20tasks%2C%20virtual%20assistants%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIT%2C%20software%20development%20and%20tech%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EData%20analyst%2C%20back-end%20or%20front-end%20developers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWriting%20and%20translation%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EContent%20writing%2C%20ghost%20writing%2C%20translation%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOnline%20microtasks%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EImage%20tagging%2C%20surveys%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20World%20Bank%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

The UN General Assembly President in quotes:

YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”

PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”

OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”

REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Mumbai Indians 213/6 (20 ov)

Royal Challengers Bangalore 167/8 (20 ov)

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EScott%20Beck%2C%20Bryan%20Woods%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Driver%2C%20Ariana%20Greenblatt%2C%20Chloe%20Coleman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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While you're here
Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

If you go

Flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.

The stay

Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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England v South Africa Test series:

First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs

Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs

Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31

Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8