The Willson Center for Humanities and Arts and the UGA Performing Arts Center will welcome the Beninese musician and activist Angélique Kidjo to the University of Georgia September 9-10, 2026 as the Willson Center’s annual Delta Visiting Chair for Global Understanding. Kidjo’s residency as Delta Chair will include a UGA Presents performance at the Performing Arts Center’s Hodgson Concert Hall on Sept. 10 and an in-person taping of the WUGA radio show “African Perspectives” at 40 Watt Club on Sept. 9, as well as a session with students in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. The Hodgson Hall and 40 Watt events are free and open to the public, though tickets are required for the Hodgson Hall concert. On Sept. 8, Kidjo will participate in a conversation with students in a Hodgson School survey class in world music taught by Jean Kidula, professor of music in ethnomusicology. The class is open to the public and begins at 1:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center's Ramsey Concert Hall. The “African Perspectives” taping will feature Kidjo in conversation with the show’s host, Akinloye Ojo, professor in the Department of Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies and director of the African Studies Institute. It will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the 40 Watt, 285 W. Washington St. No tickets or reservations are required. Kidjo’s UGA Presents performance with her band at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, will include music from her newest album, HOPE!! Free advance tickets are available now through the Performing Arts Center website and box office; see below for further details. Tickets must be presented at Hodgson Hall by 7:15 p.m. or the corresponding seats will be opened to general admission. Angelique Kidjo Angelique Kidjo is a five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and humanitarian whose powerful voice and boundless creativity have made her one of the world’s most celebrated global artists. Born in Ouidah, Benin, she draws on the rich musical traditions of West Africa while blending Afrobeat, jazz, funk, R&B, Latin rhythms, and pop into a vibrant, unmistakable style. Singing in multiple languages, Kidjo has released numerous acclaimed albums that celebrate cultural diversity, resilience, and social justice. She is a passionate advocate for education, women’s empowerment, and children’s rights, serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and supporting girls’ education through her Batonga Foundation. Her collaborations span generations and genres, reflecting her belief in music’s ability to unite people across cultures. With electrifying performances and an unwavering commitment to positive change, Angelique Kidjo continues to inspire audiences around the world. HOPE!!, released in April, is a joyful celebration of unity and the enduring power of hope. Blending her signature Afro-pop sound with funk, soul, and global rhythms, the recording features an extraordinary roster of collaborators, including Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Ayra Starr, Davido, Quavo, PJ Morton and Charlie Wilson. Dedicated to the memory of Kidjo's mother, the album transforms optimism into a musical call to action, reminding listeners that joy can be a powerful force for healing and human connection. With infectious grooves, uplifting messages, and Kidjo’s unmistakable voice at its center, HOPE!! is both a celebration of life and an inspiring soundtrack for a world in search of light. The Delta Visiting Chair for Global Understanding The Delta Visiting Chair for Global Understanding, established by the Willson Center through the support of The Delta Air Lines Foundation, hosts outstanding global scholars, leading creative thinkers, artists, and innovators who engage with audiences on and off the UGA campus through lectures, seminars, discussions, and other community events. The Delta Chair program aims to foster conversations that engage with global perspectives through the humanities and arts. The chair was last held by conductor Robert Spano in 2025. The Delta Chair is founded upon the legacy of the Delta Prize for Global Understanding, which from 1997-2011 was presented to individuals — including Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Ted Turner, Desmond Tutu, and Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter — whose initiatives promoted world peace by advancing understanding and cooperation among cultures and nations.