Angelique Kidjo, 3 African Activist Groups Win Amnesty Award

World-famous Beninese musician and Grammy award winner, Angelique Kidjo has won a human rights award, along with three African youth activist movements, for their work defending freedom of expression and peaceful protest.

Rights group Amnesty International announced the winners Wednesday, praising Kidjo and the groups Y'en a marre (Fed Up), le Balai Citoyen (The Citizen's Broom), and Lutte pour Changement (LUCHA) for their work in Africa and around the world. Amnesty says the award honors those who have shown exceptional courage in standing up to injustice, and who have used their talents to inspire others and further the cause of human rights.

The honor known as the Ambassador of Conscience Award has previously gone to world leaders such as Vaclav Havel, Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as artists Bono, Joan Baez, and Ai Wei Wei.

Ref.: Voice of America