Angelique Kidjo receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star as first Black African singer

Star ceremony in Los Angeles

Five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, becoming the first Black African singer to receive the distinction. The 66-year-old Beninese-French artist unveiled the commemorative plaque on the Los Angeles thoroughfare before a gathering of film stars, music industry leaders, and supporters. Kidjo joins a registry of approximately 2,800 figures honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a roster that includes Michael Jackson, the Beatles, and French singer Charles Aznavour. Following opening remarks from guest speakers, Kidjo offered thanks to her family and management team before performing an impromptu song for the assembled audience. During her speech, the singer addressed the foundational role of the African continent in the evolution of global music.

We Africans don't know what we've given to the world. Without us, there's no music possible on this planet.

Tributes from industry peers

Recording Academy chief executive Harvey Mason Jr. spoke at the ceremony to honor Kidjo's international legacy, describing the Beninese singer as a rare artist whose work connects diverse cultures. Mason stated that the sidewalk star provides a permanent testament to Kidjo's career while her broader influence remains visible in the barriers she has removed for international performers. Actor Willem Dafoe, who starred in the 1986 film Platoon, also delivered a speech praising Kidjo's live performances, stage presence, and dancing, calling her the hardest-working woman in show business. Dafoe directed attention to Kidjo's humanitarian efforts through the Batonga Foundation, an organization she founded to advance education and leadership opportunities for girls and young women across Africa.

This is not a token celebrity involvement; it is an extension of what she does with her music. She stirs us, lifts us up, and reminds us that we're all connected, and that love and understanding is the way.

Four decades of musical expansion

Kidjo's career on the international stage began in the early 1980s when she caught the attention of Chris Blackwell, the producer known for his work with Bob Marley. Over a recording career spanning more than four decades and 18 studio albums, the Beninese singer incorporated diverse global sounds into African musical frameworks, blending traditional rhythms with jazz, funk, rap, classical arrangements like Ravel's Bolero, and pop tracks from the Talking Heads. In recent years, Kidjo expanded her collaborative scope by recording tracks alongside Nigerian Afrobeats musicians Davido and Burna Boy. Her international standing has drawn multiple honors outside recording studios, including listings among Time magazine's 100 most influential people, the BBC's 50 most iconic figures of Africa, and The Guardian's 100 most inspiring people in the world.

National and global reception

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce originally announced the selection of Kidjo for the Walk of Fame honor in the summer of 2025 ahead of Tuesday's formal unveiling. Following the ceremony, Beninese President Romuald Wadagni issued a statement on Facebook praising Kidjo for carrying the rhythms, creativity, and dignity of Benin to the world stage. Kidjo dedicated the honor to her home nation and to fellow African musicians who continue working for international recognition. Speaking about the milestone, Kidjo told Agence France-Presse that although she is the first African singer to earn a Walk of Fame star, she remains confident that many other artists from the continent will follow her in the coming years.