Angélique Kidjo, born in the west African nation of Benin, emerged in the late 1980s as a transnational star in polyglot Paris. Today she lends voice to all of Africa in the manner of her idol, the South African Miriam Makeba, while further adopting, championing, and reinventing pan-African musical forms. Tickets are going fast.

The sinuous voice, often doubled or trebled with a female chorus of glistening harmonics, is a universal instrument, upshifting from breathy Gershwin or French chanson to throaty Congolese rhumba, then gliding from electronically-accented Hendrix blues to Brazilian axé funk.

Born in a small town on the coast of Benin, Angélique emerged from a large and creative family. Her mother was a choreographer and theater director, while her father spent much of his time on photography and the banjo. Young Angélique was quickly encouraged to learn several languages and to join her mother's dance troupe. By her ninth birthday, the young prodigy was well known throughout West Africa and very much in love with American soul music and the many other genres that make her live performances a wildly international epiphany.

Ms. Kidjo's latest project, Djin Djin, is another heady stew of transnational soul, drawing on such talents as Alicia Keys, Amadou and Mariam, Carlos Santana, Joss Stone, Peter Gabriel, Ziggy Marley, and Josh Groban. Ms. Kidjo will be the opening act for Josh Groban's 2007 tour. Get your tickets today!