Angélique Kidjo Receives Historic Hollywood Star

Angélique Kidjo, a five-time Grammy-winning singer, has become the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honored at a ceremony in Los Angeles. The event was attended by notable figures including actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Kidjo, who has had a career spanning over four decades and released 16 albums, received the 2,854th star in the Recording category.

She expressed that this recognition is a milestone for African music and artists worldwide, stating, “It’s not just my star, it’s our star.” Kidjo’s achievement follows her selection as one of the 35 members of the Class of 2026, which includes celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Shaquille O’Neal. Born on July 14, 1960, in Ouidah, Benin, Kidjo has collaborated with global stars and won multiple Grammy Awards, with her first in 2008.

She is also an activist, serving as a UNICEF and Oxfam ambassador and running the Batonga Foundation to support girls’ education in Africa.