Source: Times of Oman
Muscat: Africa's "premier diva" Angélique Kidjo was the sunshine after a rainy day when she performed at the Royal Opera House Muscat on Monday evening.

Though it was dark and stormy outside, on stage Kidjo radiated brightness and energy with her warm vocals and sizzling dance moves. Kidjo, a 54-year-old star from Benin, and her musicians (guitarist Dominic James, percussionist Magatte Sow, bass player Benjamin Zwerin and drummer Edgardo "Yayo" Serka Mimica), entertained for an hour and 45 minutes without an intermission, and left their fans beaming.

Kidjo said she has loved being on stage since she was just six years old and fell in love with the microphone, and this showed in her performance.

Whether it is with her powerful voice or her kicks and shimmies, she captivates the audience.

An activist and supporter of women's rights and girls' education, Kidjo uses the stage not just for entertaining but to share important messages about Africa and the need for world peace, which she believes one day will happen when people learn to accept their differences.

Kulumbu is a song about a dove of peace, while Awalole is a catchy upbeat song that was inspired by the African girls whom she supports with her Batonga Foundation which provides them with high school and university education.

"It's proven today that the best investment ever is girls' education," Kidjo commented.

She sang a number of songs from her latest album, Eve, which was dedicated to the women of Africa, whom Kidjo describes as "elegant, beautiful, strong and resilient."

She is critical of the international media portrayal of African women as victims and little else, which she said ignores what they truly are.

"African women are the backbone of my continent," she said.

Her song Eva is dedicated to women, and before singing it at the ROHM Kidjo said she had heard about Omani Women's Day and wanted to celebrate women here, too.

South African singer Miriam Makeba, better known as Mama Africa, was one of Kidjo's inspirations when she was young, so in honour of one of the first African superstars Kidjo also sang a covers, including Pata Pata and Malaika.

The latter, which was sung with a gentle acoustic guitar accompaniment, sounded like a prayer for peace.

Kidjo thrilled the audience when she came down off the stage and danced and sang her way through the aisles, shaking hands with her fans and even dancing with a few of them.

Then back on stage she broke the house's protocol when she invited people to join her on stage, and within seconds she had a spontaneous dance crew around her.

It was truly heartwarming to see them enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity, to dance with such a superstar.

Sadly the weather may have kept some ticket-holders away from the concert, which is really unfortunate, because Kidjo's concert was unforgettable and really did feel like sunshine after a rainy day.