Five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Beninese music icon was honored on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, during a ceremony in Los Angeles, where she unveiled the 2,854th star in the Recording category.
The milestone marks a major moment for Kidjo and African music, following a four-decade career spent bringing West African sounds to audiences around the world. Her recognition also comes as artists from across the continent continue to reshape the global music landscape, making the honor particularly significant.
Kidjo received her star at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, across from the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The ceremony was hosted by Variety correspondent Angelique Jackson, with actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. among those joining the celebration.
Angélique Kidjo Makes History
Angélique Kidjo delivers a speech as she becomes the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame:
“We Africans just don’t know what we’ve given to the world, and what we continue giving to the world for the music to exist. Without us, there’s no… pic.twitter.com/emQKHPoIF4
— Variety (@Variety) August 18, 2026
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce declared August 18 as Angélique Kidjo Day in Hollywood ahead of the ceremony. Her recognition makes her the first musician from the African continent and the first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Speaking at the unveiling, Kidjo reflected on what the honor represents for her and the wider African music community.
“We Africans just don’t know what we’ve given to the world, and what we continue giving to the world for the music to exist. Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet,” she said during the ceremony.
Kidjo also emphasized that she does not view the recognition as an achievement belonging solely to her.
“It’s not just my star, it’s our star,” she said, expressing hope that she would be the first of many African artists to receive the honor.
After thanking her family, team, collaborators, and supporters, Kidjo celebrated the occasion by singing and dancing during the ceremony.
A Four-Decade Global Career
Born in Ouidah, Benin, in 1960, Kidjo grew up surrounded by music before moving to Paris in 1983 amid political unrest in her home country. She has since built an international career spanning more than four decades and 18 albums.
Her music has consistently crossed cultural and genre boundaries, blending West African traditions with funk, jazz, R&B, gospel, Latin influences, and pop. That versatility has helped Kidjo build a global audience while maintaining a strong connection to her Beninese roots.
Over the years, she has collaborated with major artists including Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, Bono, John Legend, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Yo-Yo Ma, and Philip Glass.
Her career has also earned five Grammy Awards. She first won in 2008 for “Djin Djin,” followed by wins for “Eve” in 2015, “Sings” in 2016, “Celia” in 2020, and “Mother Nature” in 2022. She was also named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and received the 2023 Polar Music Prize.
Willem Dafoe Celebrates Kidjo’s Legacy
Angélique Kidjo poses with Willem Dafoe and Harvey Mason Jr. as she receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.https://t.co/qx9ivhNAiT pic.twitter.com/D2WErAgedl
— Variety (@Variety) August 18, 2026
Dafoe, who has been friends with Kidjo since 2002, praised the singer’s energy, musicianship, and commitment during the ceremony.
“The first time I saw Angélique perform live, I thought her music, her dancing, her commitment were incredible,” the actor said, describing her as “the hardest-working woman in show business.”
Dafoe also pointed to Kidjo’s humanitarian work, particularly through the Batonga Foundation, which supports education, leadership, and economic opportunities for girls and young women in Africa.
Mason Jr. similarly highlighted the broader impact of Kidjo’s career, describing her as an artist who has connected cultures and crossed borders through music.
“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,” he said.
Kidjo’s Latest Chapter
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The Hollywood Walk of Fame recognition comes during another active period in Kidjo’s career. Her 18th album, “HOPE!!,” was released in April 2026 and features collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Ayra Starr, Davido, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson, IZA, and PJ Morton.
The album was dedicated to Kidjo’s late mother and explores themes of grief, renewal, joy, and hope. Its release continues a creative journey that has seen Kidjo reinterpret music from different cultures while introducing new generations of listeners to African musical traditions.
Beyond music, she has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founded the Batonga Foundation in 2006. Her advocacy has focused particularly on education and economic empowerment for girls and young women in Africa.
A Milestone for African Music
The new star places Kidjo among the celebrated names immortalized along Hollywood Boulevard while recognizing a career that has helped shift perceptions of African music globally.
For Kidjo, however, the moment is about more than personal recognition. As African artists continue to gain international audiences and influence mainstream music, her Hollywood honor stands as a symbolic acknowledgment of the cultural impact of the continent’s music.
The star is now a permanent part of Hollywood Boulevard, but Kidjo’s message during the ceremony suggested that its greatest significance may be what comes next: more African artists following the path she helped create.
Featured image: Oscar Del Aguila for Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
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