Five-time GRAMMY winner and legendary visionary Angélique Kidjo has officially announced her first solo album in five years, titled HOPE!!. Set for release on April 24, 2024, via Warner Music France, the album arrives as a galvanizing antidote to despair, transmitting a message of unity and unbridled joy.
The announcement is accompanied by the release of the lead single, "Fall On Me," featuring the soulful vocals of PJ Morton.
HOPE!! serves as a massive follow-up to 2021’s Mother Nature, positioning Kidjo once again at the center of a global musical dialogue. The 16-track project features a staggering list of guests, including Nile Rodgers, Ayra Starr, Davido, Quavo, and The Cavemen.
A central highlight is Kidjo's new creative partnership with Pharrell Williams, who produced three original songs for the record: the self-celebration anthem "For Me" (featuring Charlie Wilson), the social-change-focused "No Stopping Us," and "Bando," a celebration of street-culture roots featuring Quavo. The collaboration blossomed after Pharrell invited Kidjo to perform at the Vatican in 2025.
Dedicated to her late mother, Yvonne, the album is a deeply personal homage to optimism. It concludes with a philharmonic rendition of "Malaika"—her mother’s favorite song—arranged by Derrick Hodge and featuring French singer Florent Pagny.
“With this album, I wanted to put some fire back in people’s hearts,” Kidjo says. “Despite what the political rhetoric might have us believe, we are all deeply connected. My hope is that these songs remind them that we were all put here to help and love each other.”
A TIME100 honoree and Polar Music Prize winner, Kidjo continues to use her platform for global change. Alongside her music, she remains a tireless advocate through her Batonga Foundation and her role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. HOPE!! stands as the latest testament to her status as "the most influential woman in Africa," proving that her voice and purpose have only grown stronger with time.
“Fall On Me” is available now. HOPE!! arrives in full on April 24. Live dates below.
