Five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo is set to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, becoming the first African musician and first Black African performer to be recognised on the famed boulevard. Born in Benin, the artist has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and was once dubbed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine. Vanguard News
Kidjo will receive the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the category of Recording, during a ceremony at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, directly across from the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Hollywood Walk of Fame The 66-year-old musician will be accompanied at the ceremony by Oscar-nominated American actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Vanguard News
“Angelique Kidjo’s extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents,” Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a statement announcing the honour. “We are proud to honor her as the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her remarkable contributions to music and culture around the world.” Vanguard News
Kidjo joins Charlize Theron, a white South African actress, as one of the few figures with African roots to be represented on the Walk of Fame, Billboard though she becomes the first Black African to receive the recognition. Vanguard News Reflecting on the milestone when her star was first announced, Kidjo told AFP, “I may be the first African female singer to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but I am convinced that I will not be the last. Many others will follow, and that fills my heart with joy.” Vanguard News
Over the course of her career, Kidjo has built a body of work spanning Afropop, jazz, funk and world music, earning five Grammy Awards along the way, while also collaborating with artists across different generations and genres. 104.1 Her recognition arrives at what organisers describe as a defining moment for African music, with artists from across the continent reaching new global audiences and reshaping popular music worldwide. Her honour is seen as both a celebration of her own singular legacy and a reflection of the broader movement she has helped advance for African artists on the international stage. Hollywood Walk of Fame
The recognition comes during an active period for Kidjo, who released her album HOPE!! in 2026 featuring contributions from Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Quavo and other artists. 104.1 Beyond music, Kidjo is a longtime activist who serves as a UNICEF and Oxfam ambassador and runs the Batonga Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting girls’ education across Africa. allafrica
She was named among the Walk of Fame’s 2026 class of honourees alongside stars including Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet and Shaquille O’Neal. allafrica With Tuesday’s ceremony, Kidjo cements her place not only as one of African music’s most decorated voices but as a trailblazer opening doors for the continent’s next generation of global artists.
