Five-time Grammy-winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo has announced her 19th studio album, Hope!!, due April 24, 2026, on Warner Records as a follow-up to her 2021 release Mother Nature. The project features Pharrell Williams (producing three tracks), Nile Rodgers, Ayra Starr, Quavo, Davido, Charlie Wilson, and more. The lead single 'Fall on Me' with PJ Morton is out now, and a North America-Europe tour is scheduled.
Angélique Kidjo revealed details of Hope!! via social media and press statements, describing it as a five-year effort blending Afrobeats, hip-hop, gospel, and African sounds. '5 years in the making: my new album HOPE!! is coming out on April 24th. I put my whole heart into this album and I’m so GRATEFUL to all the great artists who have contributed their genius to the album!' Kidjo posted on X.
The album is dedicated to her late mother, celebrated for her optimism and strength, and ends with a cover of her favorite Swahili song 'Malaika.' Kidjo reflected: 'I started singing when I was six years old, and I’m grateful every day that I still get to live my passion... With this album 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.'
Featured artists include Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Ayra Starr, Quavo (Migos), Charlie Wilson (The Gap Band), PJ Morton, Davido, Fally Ipupa, Dadju, Diamond Platnumz, IZA, The Cavemen., Soweto Gospel Choir, Sheila Maurice-Grey, and Florent Pagny.
The 16-track album highlights 'Bando' (Pharrell, Quavo), 'Aye Kan' (Ayra Starr), 'Oyaya' (Nile Rodgers, IZA), and 'Joy' (Davido).
To promote Hope!!, Kidjo announced a tour starting March 26, 2026, at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and concluding July 6, 2026, at Jazz a Vienne in Vienne, France. Stops include Somerville, MA; North Bethesda, MD; Princeton, NJ; Stanford, CA; La Jolla, CA; Cenon, France; Halle, Germany; Paris, France; Luxembourg; Brighton, England; Würzburg, Germany; Dublin, Ireland; and Niort, France.
Kidjo, with nearly 50 years in music, has globalized African folk, percussion, Yoruba, French, and English, earning 16 Grammy nominations and five wins. She ranked on The Guardian's 2011 Top 100 Women in art/film/music/fashion and Forbes' 2014 Africa's 40 Most Powerful Celebrities.
