ANGELIQUE KIDJO RECEIVES BEST WORLD MUSIC GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR "EVE"

Angelique Kidjo has received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best World Music Album" for her album Eve. Eve, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's World Albums Chart and a hit album worldwide, is a vibrant new collection of songs dedicated to the power of African womanhood, particularly those women she grew up with in her native Benin. Produced by Patrick Dillett (David Byrne, Fatboy Slim), Eve, named after her mother, is a joyous musical ode to the pride, beauty and strength of African women and their worldwide socio-cultural influence.  The recording showcases Kidjo's extraordinary musical vision as realized by remarkable players as well as women's choirs from several African villages in Benin and Kenya singing in a wide array of native Beninese languages including Fon, Yoruba, Goun and Mina.  Joining Kidjo is an exciting mix of new and well-known musicians including Dr. John, Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), The Kronos Quartet and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg.  Anchoring the album are guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Steve Jordan, bass great Christian McBride and Senegalese percussionist Magatte Sow.  The Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 8 and will air on CBS at 8/7c.

Says the Wall Street Journal: "An alluring and at times undeniable blend of funk, traditional African music and Africa-inspired pop that Ms. Kidjo rides with glee."

Kidjo's accolades include a 20 year discography, thousands of concerts around the world and being named "Africa's premier diva" (Time Magazine) and "the undisputed Queen of African Music" (Daily Telegraph). Kidjo's 2008 recording Djin Djin won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album and her last studio recording Oyo was nominated in the same category.  She has enjoyed a long history of notable collaborations with greats from the jazz and pop worlds—including Carlos Santana, Bono, John Legend, Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove and Alicia Keys. In an expansive career marked as much by extraordinary musical achievement as passionate advocacy and philanthropy for her homeland of Africa, Angelique Kidjo has found many ways to celebrate the rich, enlightening truth about the continent's women beyond the media spotlight.