麻豆社

In a special edition of The Arts Hour, Nikki Bedi hears from two women at the height of their creative powers; Angelique Kidjo and Sam Taylor-Johnson.

Beninese American singer, songwriter and activist Angelique Kidjo is known globally for her joyous and exuberant music which has seen her collaborate with the industry鈥檚 biggest names and earned her four Grammy awards.

Her new album Mother Nature sees her join forces with West Africa鈥檚 most creative musicians including Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Zaynab and Sampa The Great. The album, which was written during lockdown, highlights her activism and addresses the issues of climate change, the Black Lives Matter movement and Nigeria鈥檚 End Sars protests.

Nikki Bedi also speaks to British artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson. Having gained international recognition for her photography and video installations, Sam Taylor-Johnson turned her creative energies to filmmaking.

She鈥檚 directed the blockbusters Fifty Shades of Grey, the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy and adapted James Frey鈥檚 controversial novel A Million Little Pieces for the screen. She talks to Nikki Bedi about her latest project, the star studded Amazon TV drama Solos, and discusses the trajectory of her career.

(Photo: Angelique Kidjo. Credit: Fabrice Mabillot)