Beninese Icon Angélique Kidjo Wins Third Career Grammy Award

Angélique Kidjo and her third-career Grammy. Source: @angeliquekidjo

Angélique Kidjo has just won the 2016 Grammy Award for “Best World Music Album” for her Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg collaboration, Sings. The Beninese icon was up against South African choral group legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Malawi’s Zomba Prison Project, Gilberto Gil and Anoushka Shankar.

The win today is the third career Grammy for the Beninese icon. Kidjo took home the same award last year for her album Eve, and prior to that in 2008 for Djin Djin.

Kidjo's acceptance speech was nothing short of memorable. The artist behind Sings began  by singing her "thank you" song. "I want to dedicate this Grammy to all the traditional musicians in Africa, in my country, and all the young generation, the new African music, vibrant, joyful music that comes from my continent that you have to get yourself to discover," she went on to say. "Africa is on the rise. Africa is positive. Africa is joyful. Let's get together and be one through music and say no to hate and violence through music. Thank you"

She shared the same sentiment in an Instagram post in which the singer, activist and UN Goodwill Ambassador dedicated the award to her fellow African artists and musicians.

Thanks to my fans! I m dedicating my #Grammy to my fellow African artists and musicians! I love… https://t.co/sBotp3fJ3t

— Angelique Kidjo (@angeliquekidjo) February 15, 2016

Twitter is already celebrating. Big up Angélique!

Congrats Best World Music Album @angeliquekidjo - 'Sings' #GRAMMYs — The GRAMMYs (@TheGRAMMYs) February 15, 2016

She just sang her acceptance speech.

So the album title wasn't just a clever name pic.twitter.com/fwqPS9EMHC

— Mark Cameron (@NotMarkCameron) February 15, 2016

The wonderful Angelique Kidjo has won the Grammy!!! Congrats to an important voice for African music. — Ladysmith Black Mamb (@therealmambazo) February 15, 2016

Magnifique, Angélique Kidjo emporte un Grammy Best World Music Album pour son album 'Strictly Roots' pic.twitter.com/d91eJbryxC

— Nancy Roc (@TheNancyRoc) February 15, 2016

This was beautiful! Best Grammy moment so far. Angelique Kidjo https://t.co/tLns6D5k92 — chandlersdame (@chandlersdame) February 15, 2016

My Aunty Angelique Kidjo won a Grammy again, I love this woman!!

— ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ (@1umanta) February 15, 2016

Angelique Kidjo dancing onto the stage to accept her Grammy is everything. Let's be friends! #GRAMMYs #GRAMMYLive — Sonya (@sonya415) February 15, 2016