Superstar honored with PhD in Music at Yale

joan

May 20, 2015 12:15 PM

Angelique Kidjo received the honorary degree as part of a 9-person group that also included economist and current Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Angelique Kidjo makes PhD at Yale Univsersity

Beninese super star, Angelique Kidjo has received an honorary doctor of music from the University of Yale.

The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the Batonga Foundation, an organization designed to empower young women and girls in Africa through higher education, posted the good news on her Facebook official page on Monday May 18.

Yale University describes the Grammy winner as one of the world’s great voices for Africa.

''Through songs and singing, with artistry and advocacy, you have become known as one of the world’s great voices for Africa. In your music, you embrace a dazzling spectrum of genres, from traditional West African rhythms to jazz, funk, rumba, and salsa,'' writes about the Beninese icon.

It adds, ''You sing from the soul and invoke the conscience. You are a cultural and humanitarian leader. With passion, warmth, and generosity, you work tirelessly for the empowerment and education of African women and girls, and serve as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. You are a friend of Yale, and we are delighted to grant you this degree of Doctor of Music.''

Angelique Kidjo received the honorary degree as part of a 9-person group that also included economist and current Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, South African-born SpaceX and Tesla Motors entrepreneur Elon Musk, as well as Jeffrey Friedman, Peter G. Schultz, Dean Kamen, Janet Yellen, Larry Kramer and Gayatri Spivak.

Kidjo's eleventh studio LP Eve won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.

joan