Angélique Kidjo’s Life & Music

Angélique Kidjo is kicking off 2014 with a double dose of creative output thanks to next month’s release of her autobiography and latest album. She’s sharing the new material with fans by playing more than a dozen dates, including shows that feature conversation and a Q&A.

Written with Rachel Wernick, “Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music” is due out Jan. 7 on Harper Collins. The autobiography includes a preface by Desmond Tutu and a foreword by Alicia Keys.

The 16-track Eve is set for release Jan. 28 on Savoy/429 Records. The album includes guest musicians Dr. John, Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, theKronos Quartet and Orchestra Philharmonique du Luxumbourg, as well as singers and women’s choirs from several African villages in Benin and Kenya.

Kidjo wrote Eve, which is named after her mother, as an ode to the pride, beauty and strength of African women, as well as their socio-cultural influence.

“I’ve spoken for many years about the beauty of African women, and I don’t need to talk anymore about it because on this recording I am letting the voices of the women show their beauty to the world,” Kidjo said. “Eve is all about showcasing the positively they bring to their villages, cities, cultures and the world.”

The Beninoise singer-songwriter and activist, who London’s Daily Telegraph has called “the undisputed queen of African music,” will hit the road for a trek scheduled Jan. 9 through Feb. 23. Along with a conversation and Q&A, the first four stops in January will also include two or three song performances. The February shows are regular concert dates.

Here’s the itinerary:

Jan. 9 – New York, N.Y., Barnes And Noble - Union Square
Jan. 23 – Los Angeles, Calif., Public Library
Jan. 24 – San Francisco, Calif., Jewish Community Center
Jan. 27 – Brooklyn, N.Y., Brooklyn Academy Of Music
Feb. 5 –Durham, N.C., The Hayti Heritage Center
Feb. 7 – Atlanta, Ga., Variety Playhouse
Feb. 8 – Charlotte, N.C., McGlohon Theater
Feb. 9 – Morgantown, W.Va., Creative Arts Center
Feb. 11 – Chicago, Ill., City Winery Chicago
Feb. 13 – Oberlin, Ohio, Finney Chapel
Feb. 14 – Buffalo, N.Y., Buffalo State College
Feb. 15 – New York, N.Y., Town Hall
Feb. 16 – Washington, D.C., Lisner Auditorium
Feb. 18 – Philadelphia, Pa., Prince Music Theatre
Feb. 19 – Bethlehem, Pa., Musikfest Cafe At ArtsQuest Center
Feb. 20 – Ridgefield, Conn., Ridgefield Playhouse
Feb. 22 – Sherbrooke, Quebec, Granada Theatre
Feb. 23 – Somerville, Mass., Somerville Theatre

Tickets are available now.

For more information click here for Angélique Kidjo’s Facebook page.