Angélique Kidjo Set To Make History as First African Musician To Receive Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo is set to make history as the first Black African artiste to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Beninese music icon will receive the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 18 at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard in the Recording category.

Her recognition will make her the second African-born entertainer to receive the honour, after South African actress Charlize Theron, who was awarded in 2005.

Joining Kidjo at the ceremony will be internationally acclaimed actor and four-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe, alongside Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s decision to honour Angélique Kidjo recognises the remarkable impact of a music career spanning more than four decades.

Born in Benin in 1960, Kidjo moved to Paris in 1983 and has since built an acclaimed international career spanning more than four decades. The 64-year-old has won five Grammy Awards, including four Best Global Music Album prizes between 2015 and 2022, as well as a Polar Music Prize in 2023.

With 19 albums released since 1981, Kidjo is celebrated for blending West African musical traditions with genres including funk, jazz, and R&B.

Over the course of her career, the Beninese icon has collaborated with some of the world’s biggest music stars, including Burna Boy, Sting, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, and Bono, further cementing her influence across cultures and musical genres.

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