Fifa (Angélique Kidjo album)

The album was produced by Kidjo's husband, Jean Hebrail; much of it was recorded in the couple's Paris home studio.[13][14] Hundreds of musicians played on the album, including Carlos Santana and villagers and farmers encountered by Kidjo while she traveled throughout Benin.[15]

Kidjo wrote the songs by focusing on the rhythm first.[16] "Naïma" is named for Kidjo's daughter.[17] "Bitchifi" was influenced by reggae music.[18] Other songs use elements of zouk and township jive.[19]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[20]
Robert Christgau	[21]
Daily Breeze	[19]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[22]
Knoxville News Sentinel	[5]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide	[23]
Philadelphia Daily News	[6]
The Tampa Tribune	[8]

The Province wrote that "bluesy electric guitar is played to contrast lighter African styles while the drums incorporate both traditional and popular western rhythms."[24] The Toronto Star determined that "the songs seamlessly fuse traditional African rhythms with contemporary gospel singing, Afro-pop melodies and a dash of rap."[25] The Baltimore Sun called Fifa "true fusion, music that may owe a debt to other styles but which functions on its own terms."[26]

The Record stated: "Instead of mixing Western and African influences together in a blend that is neither one nor the other, Kidjo uses the influences as distinct building blocks to create a sonic structure that is remarkably coherent."[27] The Gazette deemed the album "sassy, polished, global pop."[28] The New York Times concluded that, "with funk, hip-hop, gospel and pop rubbing up against African rhythms, chants and melodies, it is her slickest crossover album yet."[29]

AllMusic noted that "Kidjo's instincts for pairing African rhythms and Western structures are inspired."[20] The Waterloo Region Record listed the album as the sixth best of 1996.[30] Nashville Scene considered it among the 20 best albums of the year.[31]