“African music is rich and diverse because Africa is a continent, not a country,” Benin’s Afropop queen Angélique Kidjo tells Apple Music. “Its music ranges from Umm Kulthum of Egypt down to Miriam Makeba of South Africa, with many distinct styles and subcultures in between.” The artist described by Time magazine in 2007 as “Africa’s premier diva” has looked within when selecting the sounds that shaped her for this exclusive playlist celebrating Africa Month. “This playlist is not an exhaustive snapshot of all of the important artists and genres,” she says. “It’s more like a journey through my musical life with the songs that inspired me and the many friendships I've found with my fellow African musicians.”