Four-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo presents her two Bermuda Festival debut concerts in the Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre of the Fairmont Southampton Resort tomorrow and Monday evenings beginning at 8.30 p.m.

Backing her will be Joao Mota (guitar), Stephane Castry (bass) Ruens de la Corte (guitar/musical director), Ibrahim Diagne (percussion) and Harvey Wirht (drums.

Born in Benin in West Africa, Ms Kidjo is the daugher of an actress, dancer and theatrical producer, from whom she inherited her love of performing. She made her stage debut at age six with her mother's theatrical troupe, and has been singing professionally since she was 20.

Relocating to Paris in 1980, Ms Kidjo's international career blossomed, and she has not only collaborated with a diverse group of international artists, but also has appeared in many prestigious events, among them Live 8 concerts in the UK, a Quicy Jones-produced concert, 'We Are the Future', in Rome, where she performed before 450,000 people; the 60th annivrsarty concert for Bob Marley in Ethiopia; and 'Roll Back Malaria', a concert staged by Youssou N'Dour with the World Health Organisation in Dakar.

In addition to being a singer and performer, Ms Kidjo is also a composer and recording artist, and her music falls into the category of "world music", for she has cross-pollinated the sounds of her West African roots with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, salsa, rhumba, soul and makossa, as well as influences from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Her latest recording, 'Djin Djin', includes contributions from Peter Gabriel, Ziggy Marley, Carlos Santa and many others.

In addition to being a successful artist, Ms. Kidjo is also a humanitarian who is known for her extensive global charity work. This was formally recognised in 2002 when UNICEF appointed her an international Goodwill Ambassador. In addition to touring many villages in African countries where she met child soldiers and girls who had been raped or abducted during wars, she recently teamed up with Alicia Keys to promote the ' Keep A Child Alive' campaign, which benefits orphans living with HIV and AIDS.

The artist is married to Jean Hébrail, who co-writes with her. The couple, who have one daughter, Naima, are true musical partners.

"Music is the ultimate power," Ms Kidjo says. "Listening to music, the colour of a person disappears. Language disappears. Even enemies listen to the same music.

For further/ticket information see website www.bermudafestival.org or contact the Festival box office at 296-5774 between 12 noon and 2 p.m., when it is open in the building adjacent to the ferry terminal.