Kenya

A multi-talented Afro-fusion artist and activist, Beatrice Achieng' Odhiambo a.k.a. Iddi Achieng' uses her music for change and her popularity to give back to her nation. She grew up in a musical family and sang in a youth church choir, eventually studying professional art and music. She has toured internationally and represented Africa in the 2010 global peace concert in Beijing, China. Her organization, the Iddi Achieng’ Trust, works with marginalized communities to realize positive developmental change through the arts.

Beatrice Achieng’ Odhiambo (Iddi Achieng’), Carol Lynn Atemi Oyungu, and Linda Wangechi Muthama participate in the Opening Ceremony for the Festival on the Moonrise Pavilion stage of the China program.

Photo by Brian Barger, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

A session about women and music that took place on the China program’s Teahouse Commons stage included Iddi Achieng’ and Wu Man, a respected Chinese pipa player and composer.

Photo by Kate Mankowski, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution

Iddi Achieng’ uses her talents to promote social change through song.

Photo by Bob Friedman, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution