Angelique Kidjo

Anglique Kidjo, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Grammy-award winning West African singer and songwriter, is one of the most electrifying performers in the world and an outspoken and passionate advocate for children.

She has one of the most powerful voices both on and off stage. In 2011, the BBC included Anglique in its list of the African continents 50 most iconic Figures while the Guardian listed her as one of the 100 most inspiring Women in the world. That same year, Forbes Magazine listed her first among The 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa.

The Benin born but Brooklyn based singer became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2002, and continues to speak up for the rights of children wherever she goes. She has travelled to Benin, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Uganda to help raise awareness and support for UNICEF's work on behalf of children -- including access to education, vaccinations, basic health care, good nutrition and protection from abuse.

In 2006, Anglique started the Batonga Foundation, an NGO that supports secondary school and higher education for girls in Africa. Young people are the hope of my continent. When I watch the children of Africa, all dreams seem possible, she has said.

In 2011, Anglique was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters, one of Frances top cultural honours. In August 2008, she received Benin's Commander of National Order of Merit for loyal services to the nation.

Kidjo is the recipient of the 2015 Crystal Award given by the World Economic Forum of Davos in Switzerland and has received the Ambassador Of Conscience Award from Amnesty International in 2016 She also is included in the exhibits at the National Museum of African American History that opened on Sept. 24, 2016 on the National Mall.