ARHU Dean's Lecture Series with Angélique Kidjo

ARHU Dean's Lecture Series with Angélique Kidjo

American Studies | Art | Art History and Archaeology | Classics | Communication | English | History | Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies | Linguistics | Philosophy | School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures | School of Music | School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies | The Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Monday, October 5, 2026 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Dekelboum Concert Hall, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

About the Event

Five-time Grammy Award winner and humanitarian Angélique Kidjo sits down with College of Arts and Humanities Dean Stephanie Shonekan for a poignant conversation about music, cultural fluency and global advocacy. Named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world and “Africa’s premier diva,” Kidjo hails from Benin and blends musical traditions from West Africa and around the globe while incorporating multiple languages, including her own personal musical language.

During this special evening, Dean Shonekan and Kidjo will explore the artist’s music and how the singer has used her fame as a platform for humanitarian work as an ambassador for both Oxfam and UNICEF and a founder of the Batonga Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing girls’ education across Africa.

This event will feature performances by UMD students.

Reserve your free tickets.