The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Last night, four-time Grammy-nominee Angelique Kidjo gave a stellar performance at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Despite her relatively petite stature, Kidjo is a ball of energy. She brought life and vitality to the stage as she sang and danced to the rhythm of African drums and electric guitars.

Kidjo's music is inspired by her childhood home of Benin, but also includes elements of American R&B, funk, and jazz, and influences from Europe and Latin America. From the very beginning of her performance, Kidjo was clearly able to energize her audience. Her powerful voice and catchy African beats make it hard for the audience to resist dancing along.

Calling her microphone her "weapon of mass love," Kidjo also brings activism to the stage. Kidjo preaches love, peace, and the need to unify all human beings. Her goal is to touch lives through her singing and her message of love. The audience at the Ordway Center seemed to truly embrace Kidjo's message as they unabashedly sang and danced along to her music, sometimes swaying back and forth with their neighbors and embracing those around them. Kidjo's positive attitude reverberated through the crowd along with her powerful voice.

To compliment her strong vocals, Kidjo was backed by an equally strong band. The three guitarists and two percussionists not only provided an energetic backdrop for Kidjo's songs, but were also let loose to perform a purely instrumental segment of the show while Kidjo took a break offstage. The band gave the show depth through their lively performance and constant interaction with Kidjo.

Kidjo's connection with her audience was incredible. It takes a special kind of performer to gain the love and appreciation of a crowd, but Kidjo seemed to accomplish this feat effortlessly. She danced among the audience, told jokes, and even encouraged audience members to come dance on the stage with her. The level of interaction Angelique Kidjo had with the crowd at the Ordway made her show unforgettable.

Before you buy a ticket to her next show, however, keep in mind that if you have trouble losing yourself in a performance, the amount of audience participation may be daunting instead of delightful. In order to truly enjoy Kidjo's performance, you have to let yourself be enveloped by her music and the excited atmosphere it creates.