Angélique Kidjo releases orchestral version of ‘Bando’ ahead of SA performances

The release comes ahead of Kidjo’s scheduled performances at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in Johannesburg on 25 and 26 September, where she will appear as part of the festival’s 2026 programme.

Produced by Pharrell Williams, the new arrangement expands the original track from Kidjo’s album HOPE!! with contributions from the gospel choir Voices of Fire and L’Orchestre du Pont Neuf, led by French composer and conductor Thomas Roussel. The arrangement builds around the song’s recurring refrain, “We’ll survive”, reinforcing its themes of resilience and hope.

The accompanying video was directed by filmmaker Paul Hunter and filmed in La Grande Borne, a public-housing development in Grigny, on the outskirts of Paris. Kidjo, Williams and Quavo appear alongside local residents, who took part in the filming during a period of extreme heat.

Kidjo said the video was intended to present a broader picture of life in communities often associated primarily with poverty and hardship.

“Most of the time, people only talk about the pain and the struggle of people in the projects, but there’s also pride and joy and celebration,” she said. “When we made the video the whole community came out, and you could feel how proud they were to be seen and recognised. Even in the crazy heat, the kids were so happy and so hopeful. I hope that the song will do them justice, and lift them up even more.”

Hunter said the production focused on capturing the community and its everyday interactions.

“The visual world of ‘Bando’ is rooted in culture and community,” he said. “I was moved by the song and inspired to explore the world it evokes beyond the music itself. The most powerful moments came from observing people simply being together, seeing the younger generation supported by those who came before them, and capturing those natural moments of connection.”

The title ‘Bando’ refers to an abandoned house, but the song uses the term more broadly to examine communities affected by poverty and inequality. For Kidjo, the track also reflects the ability of people to create and find agency despite difficult circumstances.

“So much of the art that we love comes from people who created something out of nothing,” she said. “When you have so little, making art becomes a way to have agency and protect your humanity. It proves that you have something of value to share with the world.”

The release continues Kidjo’s longstanding creative relationship with Williams, which began when the pair met in 2007 at his studio in Miami. They later reconnected at the Grace For The World concert in Vatican City before beginning work together in Paris.

Williams wrote and produced three songs for HOPE!!, including ‘Bando’. The orchestral version was recently performed as the finale of Louis Vuitton’s Spring-Summer 2027 Men’s Show in Paris, where Williams is the brand’s Men’s Creative Director.

HOPE!! is Kidjo’s first full-length album following Mother Nature, which won a Grammy Award. Dedicated to her late mother, Yvonne, the album explores themes including grief, resilience, love, joy and hope, with guest appearances from Williams, Quavo, Ayra Starr, Davido, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson, IZA and PJ Morton.

The release follows a significant period in Kidjo’s career. On 18 August, she became the first African musician and first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The occasion was also recognised by Los Angeles with the declaration of “Angélique Kidjo Day”.