Angélique Kidjo and Youssou N’Dour United at the Grand Rex for a Joint Concert

The format promises more than just a series of performances. These two icons of African music want to blend their songs, languages, and influences on the same stage, in a spirit of musical dialogue. The Grand Rex describes the event as a “brother-sister” duo, an image that reflects the artistic closeness they have claimed for several years.

Ticket sales opened on 4 September, with prices announced between 49,90 and 144,50 euros. The lineup published by the Grand Rex notably includes Mustapha Gaye on guitar, Thierry Vaton on keyboards, Rody Cereyon on bass, and Grégory Louis on drums, with Babacar Faye and David Donatien on percussion.

For the Beninese public, the bill has a special resonance. Originally from Ouidah, Angélique Kidjo shares the headline here with Youssou N’Dour, one of Senegal’s most emblematic voices. Their meeting thus brings together two major trajectories of West African music that have become international.

A long-awaited duo

Angélique Kidjo explains that Youssou N’Dour’s voice and music have long been among her sources of inspiration. The two artists had already had the opportunity to sing together on a few tracks, but never to build a full show around their two universes.

Youssou N’Dour, for his part, presents this collaboration as a project long considered but delayed by their respective schedules. The Senegalese singer indicates that this series of concerts should truly take shape starting in March 2027, with joint work on the most significant songs from their catalogs.

Two African icons on the same stage

Angélique Kidjo has pursued an international career for over three decades, blending afropop, Beninese traditions, jazz, soul, and transatlantic collaborations. Her journey has been crowned by several Grammy Awards as well as the Polar Music Prize in 2023.

Youssou N’Dour has carried Senegalese mbalax onto international stages for more than forty years, while building bridges with pop and world music.