Angelique Kidjo Makes History With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

 Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo has become the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The five-time Grammy-winning singer was honored at a ceremony in Los Angeles, attended by film stars and leading figures from the music industry, including Academy Award-nominated actor Willem Dafoe, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., as guest speakers.

The 66-year-old Kidjo received the honour after more than four decades in music and releasing 16 albums, at the ceremony where she received the 2,854th star in the Recording category. She joins Charlize Theron as one of the few Africans on the Walk of Fame. A longtime activist, Kidjo is also a UNICEF and Oxfam ambassador and runs the Batonga Foundation to support girls’ education in Africa.

Speaking during the ceremony, Kidjo described the recognition as a milestone not only for herself but for African music and artists around the world. “We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world, what we continue giving to the world; without us there’s no music possible [on] this planet.” The singer also expressed hope that her achievement would create opportunities for other African artistes.

“It’s not just my star, it’s our star,” she said, while also noting that although she may be the first, she would not be the last. Kidjo’s Hollywood Walk of Fame honour follows her selection as one of the 35 members of the Class of 2026. The class also includes Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Demi Moore, Shaquille O’Neal, Josh Groban and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

The milestone places Kidjo’s name among Hollywood’s most celebrated figures while marking a significant moment for African music on one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment landmarks. Born on 14 July 1960, in Ouidah, Benin, then known as Dahomey, Kidjo grew up surrounded by music before moving to Paris in 1983 amid political unrest in her home country.

She released her debut album, Pretty, in 1981 and went on to build an international career that has spanned more than four decades. Her music draws from West African traditions while incorporating elements of funk, jazz, R&B, gospel and Latin music. Over the years, she has collaborated with global stars including Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, Sting, Bono, Peter Gabriel, Yo-Yo Ma and Philip Glass.

Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards, with her first coming in 2008 for Djin Djin. She subsequently won Best World Music Album for Eve in 2015, Sings in 2016, Celia in 2020 and Mother Nature in 2022. Her other honours include the 2023 Polar Music Prize and recognition on TIME magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people.