Five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo is preparing to add another powerful chapter to her remarkable career with the announcement of her 19th studio album, Hope!!, set for release on April 24, 2026.
For decades, Kidjo has championed the global reach of African music proving time and again that the continent’s sound belongs on every stage and in every cultural conversation. With Hope!!, she continues that legacy while opening the door to a new generation of collaborators.
The 14-track album has been five years in the making and carries a deeply personal dedication to Kidjo’s late mother, Yvonne, whom she described as a lasting source of optimism and courage. That emotional tribute runs throughout the project and reaches a touching conclusion on the closing track, a rendition of the classic East African song Malaika, one of her mother’s favorites.
Musically, Hope!! brings together an impressive cross-continental lineup. The album features contributions from Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Quavo, Charlie Wilson, Fally Ipupa, Diamond Platnumz, PJ Morton, IZA, Florent Pagny, Dadju and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Adding a strong Nigerian presence to the album are Davido, Ayra Starr and the highlife-inspired duo The Cavemen. Their inclusion highlights the continued influence of Afrobeats and African contemporary music on the global stage.
Kidjo’s connection with Davido is already well established. The two previously collaborated on tracks like Na Money and Joy, making their reunion on Hope!! a natural continuation of a creative partnership that fans have come to appreciate.
Production on the album also includes contributions from Pharrell Williams, who produced three tracks during sessions in Paris adding his signature sonic touch to the project’s global sound.
The album’s first single, Fall on Me, featuring PJ Morton, offers an early glimpse into the spirit of the record. Built around themes of joy, resilience and perseverance, the song sets the emotional tone for what promises to be one of Kidjo’s most heartfelt releases yet.
Hope!! arrives five years after Kidjo’s acclaimed 2021 album Mother Nature, which earned the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album, another milestone in a career defined by cultural bridge-building and musical excellence.
With a feature list that spans continents, generations and genres, Hope!! is shaping up to be more than just another album release. It is a reminder that Angélique Kidjo’s voice both musically and culturally continues to carry hope far beyond the stage.
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