ASHÉ
“Kidjo’s music has always been about legacies of women, of Africa, of tradition, of changing tradition when tradition needed changing and the sharing of stories.”
Inspired by her ancestors, her family, and Africa’s resilience, Kidjo conjures up a timely theatrical work that is at both a family drama and historical thriller, redolent of Greek tragedy and infused with themes of love, betrayal, honor, free will, and the horror and injustice of slavery.
The story is set in 19th century Dahomey, the West African kingdom that once occupied the territory that is now Benin; the slave trade is in full swing. In the port city of Ouidah, where the world of the gods is close to that of men, Yemandja—deity of water and fertility—has given her protégée Omolola a secret gift: the power of song to change the course of history. But there is one caveat: the power only works if your heart is pure. As DeSalta, a Brazilian slave trader who has struck a deal with King Akaba and controls the city, kills or enslaves those around Omolola, she struggles to access her song, her desire for revenge threatening to surpass her will to be a positive force.
THE OFFICE is in development with creatives to create a new touring production of Ashé that will be ready in the Spring/Summer of 2025.
Angélique Kidjo
Global pop star and four-time GRAMMY award winner Angélique Kidjo is an international creative force. Her striking voice, illuminating stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have expanded her following across national borders. Kidjo has cross-pollinated the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America.
Kidjo received the prestigious 2015 Crystal Award given by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and the 2016 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award. She has appeared in several films, and won Best Actress in a Supporting Role from the African Movie Academy Awards for her role in Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan’s The CEO. It’s no surprise that acting is also in her blood: Kidjo’s mother founded a theater company in Benin, and she made her stage debut at age six.
THE OFFICE has presented Angélique at multiple festivals and venues (BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, MASS MoCA, the REACH opening festival at the Kennedy Center, among others) and has commissioned works from her (Angélique Kidjo’s Women Waging Peace, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2012). We are thrilled and delighted to be producing her first theater work.
CREATIVE TEAM
CONCEIVED BY ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO, JEAN HEBRAIL & NAÏMA HEBRAIL KIDJO
DIRECTED BY TONY AWARD NOMINEE JO BONNEY
Executive Producer is Xtina Parks.
Produced by THE OFFICE performing arts+film.
Co-commissioned by a consortium of global partners including ArtsEmerson, The Broad Stage at Santa Monica College, Brown Arts Institute, Cal Performances, Ruth and Stephen Hendel, Holland Festival, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, MASS MoCA and Yale Schwarzman Center and The Perlman Center.
2022 presenters were MASS MoCA, The Broad Stage at Santa Monica College, Cal Performances,The Kennedy Center, and Holland Festival.