Five time Grammy Award winning Beninese singer and songwriter Angélique Kidjo has become the first Black African artist and first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Kidjo received the 2,854th star in the Recording category on August 18, 2026, during a ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
The recognition places Kidjo among the artists and entertainment figures honoured on the famous Los Angeles landmark, which has more than 2,800 stars dedicated to major contributors to film, television, music and other areas of entertainment.
The ceremony was attended by American actor Willem Dafoe, Recording Academy chief executive Harvey Mason Jr, Beninese born actor Djimon Hounsou and Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold.
Before the star was unveiled, Ron Frierson, president and chief executive of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, declared August 18 as Angélique Kidjo Day in Hollywood.
Kidjo used her acceptance speech to reflect on Africa’s contribution to global music and the continent’s influence on music 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,’ she said.
She also broke into song during the ceremony before dancing over her newly unveiled star.
Mason Jr praised Kidjo’s career and described the star as a permanent symbol of her achievements.
‘This star is a permanent symbol. It’s not going anywhere, and it is a symbol of your achievements,’ he said.
He added that her legacy extends beyond the physical star to the people she has influenced and inspired.
‘But your legacy, it lives in the people that you’ve touched, that you’ve inspired, the barriers that you’ve broken, the connections you’ve created all around the world,’ Mason Jr said.
A career spanning more than four decades
Kidjo’s Hollywood recognition follows more than four decades of music in which she has connected West African sounds with R and B, jazz, funk, gospel and music from across the African diaspora.
She has released 18 albums and worked with international artists including Alicia Keys, Burna Boy, Yo Yo Ma, Bono, Peter Gabriel and John Lennon.
Her five Grammy Awards have made her one of the most recognised African artists in the history of the awards. She has also received international honours including the Polar Music Prize, Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award and the Vilcek Prize in Music.
Beyond music, Kidjo has used her platform to support social causes. She founded the Batonga Foundation, which focuses on education, leadership and economic opportunities for girls and young women in Africa. She also serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Her latest album, HOPE!!, continues her focus on African music and international collaboration. The project features artists including Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Davido, Ayra Starr, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson and PJ Morton.
Why the Hollywood star matters
The Hollywood Walk of Fame star gives Kidjo another major milestone in a career that has taken African music to audiences around the world.
Her recognition also marks a first for African musicians on the Hollywood landmark. By becoming the first Black African artist and first African musician to receive a star, Kidjo has added the Hollywood Walk of Fame to a long list of international honours earned during her career.
The honour recognises her work as a musician and her wider contribution to cultural exchange, while highlighting the influence of African music on the global entertainment industry.
For Kidjo, the Hollywood star is another chapter in a career built on African music, international collaboration and advocacy.