Angelique Kidjo

Forced to leave her native Benin (birthplace of voodoo!) for her survival -- and since relocated to Paris -- Angelique Kidjo is a gifted vocalist who combines African folk with everything from American hip-hop and European electronica to world pop. Her vocal style adds elements of soul and jazz, but that's no surprise coming from a woman who grew up loving the music of Jimi Hendrix, as well as Celtic music and Vocal Jazz. Her dance-friendly tracks feature enough 70s-style Funk, Acid Jazz grooves and phat beats to keep the club kids happy, but her A Capella vocals will please the older adults who fondly remember hearing fellow African-born vocalist Miriam Makeba for the first time.