African music icon Angélique Kidjo has released the official music video and a new orchestral version of “Bando,” featuring Pharrell Williams and Quavo, on Friday, August 28, 2026.
The song originally appeared on Kidjo’s album HOPE!! earlier this year, but the new version gives it a much bigger and more cinematic sound. Produced by Pharrell Williams, the expanded recording features the gospel choir Voices of Fire and a 50-member orchestra.
The orchestral arrangement was first presented as the soundtrack for the finale of the Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring-Summer 2027 fashion show in Paris. Pharrell, who serves as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director, brought the song into the fashion world with the large-scale performance.
The accompanying music video takes viewers to La Grande Borne in Grigny, a neighborhood outside Paris. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Hunter, the visual brings together Kidjo, Pharrell and Quavo with residents from the local community.
“Bando” takes its title from a trap music term referring to an abandoned house. Kidjo has described the song as a message of resilience and hope, emphasizing that a person’s beginnings do not have to determine where their life ultimately leads.
The release also comes during a major period in Kidjo’s career. Earlier this month, she became the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, adding another historic achievement to her decades-long career.
With its powerful orchestra, gospel choir and message of hope, the new “Bando” version gives Angélique Kidjo’s collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Quavo a fresh and ambitious dimension.
