Angélique Kidjo’s “Bando” Featuring Pharrell Williams and Quavo Closes Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring-Summer 2027 Show in Paris
Angélique Kidjo’s “Bando,” featuring Pharrell Williams and Quavo, closed Louis Vuitton’s Spring-Summer 2027 Men’s Show on June 23 at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, bringing a high-profile musical finale to the fashion house’s latest runway presentation.
The show was staged under the direction of Pharrell Williams, who has served as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director since 2023. As part of the presentation, Williams unveiled new original music designed specifically for the runway, creating a soundtrack that blended orchestral arrangements, choir performances, hip-hop, and global musical influences.
The evening concluded with “Bando,” a track from Kidjo’s latest album, HOPE!!. The performance featured vocals from the Virginia-based choir Voices of Fire, while conductor Thomas Roussel led L’Orchestre du Pont Neuf as part of the live production accompanying the show.
The Louis Vuitton appearance marks the latest collaboration between Kidjo and Williams. Williams produced three songs on HOPE!!, including “Bando,” strengthening a creative partnership that bridges music and fashion. Williams also recently dressed Kidjo in custom Louis Vuitton for the GRAMMY Awards, continuing the relationship between the Beninese singer and the French luxury brand.
Released as the follow-up to Kidjo’s 2021 album Mother Nature, HOPE!! features an international roster of collaborators, including Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Davido, Ayra Starr, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson, IZA, and PJ Morton. The project continues Kidjo’s long-standing practice of working across musical genres and cultures while connecting African sounds with global audiences.
Kidjo, who was born in Ouidah, Benin, has spent more than four decades building one of the most internationally recognized careers in world music. Since emerging on the global stage in the 1980s, she has recorded in multiple languages and collaborated with artists spanning pop, R&B, jazz, African music and classical traditions. Her work has frequently explored themes of cultural exchange, social development, and African identity.
Over the course of her career, Kidjo has earned five GRAMMY Awards and received 16 nominations. Her album Mother Nature won the GRAMMY Award for Best Global Music Album, further cementing her status as one of the most decorated artists in the category.
Recognition for Kidjo’s influence has extended beyond the music industry. She was named to TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People and received Sweden’s Polar Music Prize in 2023, an honor often described as one of music’s highest distinctions. In December 2024, she performed during ceremonies marking the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris following years of restoration.
The Louis Vuitton appearance arrives as Kidjo prepares for another milestone. She is scheduled to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this summer, becoming the first Black African artist to be awarded the distinction. The honor places her among a select group of international performers recognized for their contributions to entertainment and culture.
Her participation in Louis Vuitton’s Spring-Summer 2027 Men’s Show underscores the growing intersection of music and luxury fashion and highlights a collaboration that has connected one of Africa’s most influential artists with one of the world’s most prominent fashion houses.