I first heard Angelique's music in 1994. The song was Agolo from the "Aye" CD.

I was stunned by the ease with which her voice glided across the scales. It reminded me of someone revving a powerful motor bike.

With the quick flick of the wrist the exhaust sound rises from a silent easy rumble to an urgent all out roar. Ease off on the throttle and the exhaust settles back into an easy gentle rumble...just like that! Yes, Angelique has that kind of mastery of her voice.

I was also taken by the "funny" Yoruba dialect. I thought I recognized the words but wasn't sure. So I ran out to the store (No Amazon.com in those days) and read the liner notes. I have bought every CD she has released since.

Have you listened to her cover of Jimi Hendrix' Voodoo Chile on the Oremi Album?. Awesome!

But, back to Detroit.

Like Femi on Friday night and Lagbaja! earlier on Saturday, Angelique also gave a stirring show keeping people on their feet.

Suddenly, the band played happy birthday. We all waited for Angelique to tell us who was being serenaded and then it dawned on us. It was her. It was Angelique's birthday. June 14^th. The band seemed to have caught her by suprise but she obviously enjoyed it.

If only they had also invited Henri Dikongue from Cameroon. With Femi and Lagbaja representing Nigeria, Angelique on the Western border (Benin) and Henri from the East (Cameroon)...ahhh what a weekend that would have been.

OK...I know, I'm getting greedy....No doubt, the West Africans represented.