Angelique Kidjo Announces Her New Album, ‘HOPE!!’

Angélique Kidjo has announced a new album titled HOPE!!, set for release on April 24 through Parlophone and Warner Music Group. The record is the follow-up to her 2021 album Mother Nature, which earned the Beninese singer a Best Global Music nod at the Grammy Awards, reinforcing her position as one of the African continent’s most influential artists.

The new project contains 16 songs, drawing on a wide network of collaborators from across continents. Among the guests are Pharrell Williams, fresh off a groundbreaking year with The Clipse. Ayra Starr, who gave us bangers throughout 2025, is also present, as is Nile Rodgers, whose impact on modern pop music can’t be overstated. Preset as well are Quavo, Davido, Fally Ipupa, Diamond Platnumz, and The Cavemen.

Kidjo has already released the single “Fall On Me,” featuring PJ Morton, alongside the album announcement. Produced by Shizzi, one of the foremost players in Afrobeats, the song introduces a project that the singer says is rooted in restoring joy during uncertain times.

“I started singing when I was six years old, and I’m grateful every day that I still get to live my passion and do what I love with my life,” Kidjo said in a statement. She added that the album aims to remind listeners of the importance of joy and hope. “I wanted to put some fire back in people’s hearts, and show how much we need that joy and hope to keep our humanity going.”

Williams plays a key role on the record. The producer and artist worked with Kidjo on three songs that grew out of a 2025 meeting, when he invited her to perform at his Grace For The World concert in Vatican City. Their collaboration continued in his Paris studio, where they created tracks including “For Me,” featuring Wilson, and “Bando,” featuring vocals from Williams and Quavo.

HOPE!! is dedicated to Kidjo’s late mother, Yvonne. The album closes with a philharmonic version of the East African classic “Malaika,” arranged by acclaimed jazz musician Derrick Hodge and performed with French singer Florent Pagny. Kidjo says the song was her mother’s favourite.

The album was recorded in Paris and Los Angeles over the past three years, and moves across multiple musical traditions. Brazilian star IZA appears on “Oyaya,” while the Soweto Gospel Choir contributes vocals to several songs, including “Sunlight To My Soul,” written by songwriter Diane Warren. Other producers include Philippe Saisse and Louddaaa.

Kidjo’s recent years have brought continued recognition. In 2023, she received the Polar Music Prize, and she has been named among the world’s most influential figures by TIME. In 2024, she also performed “Jerusalema” during the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Kidjo remains active in humanitarian work through the Batonga Foundation, which supports the education of girls across Africa. She also serves as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. 

The album announcement is also accompanied by a tour. Kidjo will be on the road from late March through to July, making stops in France, Ireland, Canada, and the U.S.

“Sometimes it feels as though the world is losing hope at such a rapid pace that it’s endangering our humanity,” says Kidjo. “With all the music that I create, I want to show that anything and everything is possible — and that despite what the political rhetoric might have us believe, we are all deeply connected. My hope is that these songs bring happiness to everyone, but also remind them that we were all put here to help and love each other.”

With HOPE!!, Kidjo continues a decades-long career built on collaboration, activism, and a belief in music as a tool for connection. The singer says the message behind the album is simple: people need hope and each other.