Tanzania, April 11 -- Grammy-winning icon Angelique Kidjo is turning to one of East Africa's most beloved songs, 'Malaika', for a deeply personal moment on her upcoming album 'Hope'.

In a heartfelt post shared with fans, Kidjo revealed that her new rendition of 'Malaika' is a tribute to her late mother.

"Finishing up my HOPE album!! dedicated to my mother who left us five years ago, I wanted to perform 'Malaika'. This was her favourite song, the one she would always ask me to sing to her," Kidjo wrote.

The singer collaborated with French artiste Florent Pagny on the new version, blending her signature global sound with the song's timeless Swahili melody.

"I'm very happy to have created this new version with Florent Pagny, whose voice ...