YEMANDJA
Premiered in 2022, Yemandja, Angelique Kidjo’s first foray into theater was seen by nearly sixty five hundred audience members in 5 cities. Inspired by her ancestors, her family, and Africa’s resilience, Kidjo conjures up a timely theatrical work that is at both a family drama and historical thriller, redolent of Greek tragedy and infused with themes of love, betrayal, honor, free will, and the horror and injustice of slavery.
The story is set in 19th century Dahomey, the West African kingdom that once occupied the territory that is now Benin; the slave trade is in full swing. In the port city of Ouidah, where the world of the gods is close to that of men, Yemandja—deity of water and fertility—has given her protégée Omolola a secret gift: the power of song to change the course of history. But there is one caveat: the power only works if your heart is pure. As DeSalta, a Brazilian slave trader who has struck a deal with King Akaba and controls the city, kills or enslaves those around Omolola, she struggles to access her song, her desire for revenge threatening to surpass her will to be a positive force.
Angélique Kidjo's 'Yemandja' is a family drama and historical thriller
New musical theatre piece is inspired by her ancestors, her family and Africa's resilience
Angélique Kidjo’s new musical theater work comes to the Kennedy Center
‘Yemandja’ was co-written by the Benin-born singer-songwriter, her husband and their daughter
“Kidjo’s music has always been about legacies of women, of Africa, of tradition, of changing tradition when tradition needed changing and the sharing of stories.”
“Kidjo’s music has always been about legacies of women, of Africa, of tradition, of changing tradition when tradition needed changing and the sharing of stories.”
CREATIVE TEAM
CONCEIVED BY ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO, JEAN HEBRAIL & NAÏMA HEBRAIL KIDJO
Executive Producer is Xtina Parks.
Produced by THE OFFICE performing arts+film.
Co-commissioned by a consortium of global partners including ArtsEmerson, The Broad Stage at Santa Monica College, Brown Arts Institute, Cal Performances, Ruth and Stephen Hendel, Holland Festival, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, MASS MoCA and Yale Schwarzman Center and The Perlman Center.
2022 presenters were MASS MoCA, The Broad Stage at Santa Monica College, Cal Performances,The Kennedy Center, and Holland Festival.