Angélique Kidjo was unapologetically African on her victorious Grammy night

The 62nd Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26 and everyone in attendance saw Africa through Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo.

It was a night of honours for Angélique Kidjo who performed at the Grammys and also took home one award in the Best World Music Album category.

Her win might have come at the expense of Burna Boy who had the whole Nigeria and the Afrobeats movement backing him, but every African can take solace in how Angélique Kidjo represented the continent on the biggest night in music.

Angélique Kidjo was unapologetically African in everything she did on Sunday night. From what she wore to her performances and even her acceptance speech. In 2007, Time magazine called her "Africa's premier diva and on Sunday night, she once again embodied that title.

Fashion

Angélique Kidjo won her fourth Grammy award on Sunday (Instagram/Angélique Kidjo) Instagram

Angélique Kidjo showed on the red carpet in the popular African print, Ankara dress and properly-tied headgear. Her neckpiece complimented the colour of the dress in a fashionable way.

The 59-year-old singer has made several appearances at the Grammys all through her career and she has always made a deliberate effort to stay African.

The outfit she rocked for her performance was simply amazing. Kidjo wore a two-piece Ankara outfit with a headgear that had a different colour and pattern from the dress. Talk about rocking a two-piece effortlessly.

Music

Before she got her award, Angélique Kidjo showcased Africa again with the performance of ‘Afirika’ off her Celia album which she later won an award with.

“You know that all music come from Africa, right? That we are all Africans, right? So tonight, I want to celebrate our shared humanity by singing with you and teaching you the song I’m about to sing,” she says before making the crowd sing ‘Ashè é Maman, ashè é Mama Afirika, Mama Afirika’ with her.

It was a brazen showcase of where she is from and the continent she represents.

In her last act of the night, the legend got the award for the Best World Music Album and she was African again, shouting out Burna Boy.

“Burna Boy is among those young artistes that come from Africa that is changing the away our continent is perceived and the way African music has been the bedrock of every music,” she said in her acceptance speech.

From an African perspective, it was Angélique Kidjo’s night but she made sure she brought the whole continent with her.

Watch her performance below.