2026 ARHU Dean's Lecture Series with Angélique Kidjo

Angélique Kidjo, the five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and humanitarian from Benin, will join ARHU Dean Stephanie Shonekan for a conversation about music, cultural fluency and global advocacy. The evening will examine Kidjo’s blend of West African and international musical traditions, her use of multiple languages and her distinctive musical voice. UMD students will also perform.

The discussion will address Kidjo’s humanitarian work, including her roles as an Oxfam and UNICEF ambassador and her founding of the Batonga Foundation, which supports girls’ education across Africa. Kidjo has been recognized by Time as one of the world’s 100 most influential people and is widely known as “Africa’s premier diva.”

When: Monday, October 5, 2026

Showtime: 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Dekelboum Concert Hall at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland

Admission: Free; tickets are required and will become available closer to the event date.

Seating: General admission.

Featuring: Angélique Kidjo, ARHU Dean Stephanie Shonekan and performances by UMD students.

Run time: Not specified.

Accessibility: The venue offers wheelchair-accessible and size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult- and child-friendly sensory packs and quiet spaces upon request. ASL interpretation, audio description and captioning are available for select events or by patron request at least six weeks in advance.