Angélique Kidjo Receives First African Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:39:12 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Five‑time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo marks a landmark milestone by becoming the first African artist honored with a star in Los Angeles, cementing her influence across cultures.

In a historic ceremony, Beninese icon Angélique Kidjo earned a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, becoming the first African musician to receive the honor. The event saw her celebrate a career that blends Beninese traditions with funk, jazz, and pop, while sharing poignant reflections on cultural unity. Joined by fellow Beninese Djimon Hounsou, Hollywood actor Willem Dafoe, and Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold, Kidjo’s acceptance emphasized music as a universal language. The star’s unveiling further solidified her status as a global ambassador for African music and humanitarian causes.

Angélique Kidjo Receives First African Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Five‑time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first African musician to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a moment that underscores her global influence and the growing recognition of African voices in mainstream popular culture.

During the ceremony, Kidjo spoke eloquently about the pivotal role of Africanness in shaping music worldwide. “We Africans simply do not fully comprehend the gifts we provide humanity, and the music that keeps us alive,” she told the assembled crowd, echoing her call for greater awareness of Africa’s enduring contributions to global culture.

Her family, close friends, and fellow Beninese star, actor Djimon Hounsou, as well as other notable guests—including Hollywood actor Willem Dafoe and Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold—were present to celebrate this landmark achievement. Dafoe, reflecting on Kidjo’s energy, compared her to soul legend James Brown and praised her as an “undeniably hard‑working” performer and activist.

Kidjo’s illustrious career spans more than four decades of fusing West African rhythms with funk, jazz, and pop. With 18 studio albums, 17 Grammy nominations, and five wins, she has carved a distinct niche that has inspired collaborations with global icons such as Burna Boy, John Legend, Bono, and Alicia Keys. Her latest work, the 2023 album HOPE!!, showcases partnerships with Pharrell Williams, Ayra Starr, Quavo, Nile Rogers, and Diane Warren.

Kidjo, a UNICEF and Oxfam goodwill ambassador and co‑founder of the Batonga Foundation, has used her platform to champion gender equality and education for young women in Benin. In her acceptance speech, she echoed her vision of the world as “a small village” comprising all human beings, regardless of language, skin color, or origin, stating, “We are one human family.”

Celebrity and industry figures praised her achievements, with Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. noting that Kidjo “connects cultures, crosses borders, and reminds audiences everywhere” of the unifying power of music. The star’s unveiling added her to a line of prominent African luminaries on the Walk, following South African actress Charlize Theron, and it highlighted the significant strides African talents have made in international entertainment arenas.

The milestone underscores a shift toward greater inclusivity within Hollywood’s honors system and offers a hopeful glimpse of African artists’ future influence on a global cultural stage.