Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo is set to make history as the first African musician and first Black African performer to receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Kidjo will be honoured with the 2,854th star on the famed boulevard, adding another extraordinary milestone to a career that has stretched across more than four decades and taken African music to audiences around the world.
Her star ceremony is scheduled for August 18 at 11:30 a.m. PT at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.
The ceremony will bring together some major names from the global entertainment industry. Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Grammy- and Primetime Emmy-nominated songwriter and producer Harvey Mason Jr., who also serves as CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, are expected to join Kidjo for the historic occasion.
Kidjo’s recognition places her among a select group of performers whose contributions have left an enduring mark on global popular culture.
A milestone beyond music
While the Hollywood Walk of Fame has honoured performers from across the world, Kidjo’s induction carries particular significance for Africa.
She will become only the second African-born personality to be represented on the Walk of Fame, following South African actress Charlize Theron, who received her star in 2005.
But Kidjo’s achievement breaks new ground for African music.
For years, she has stood at the intersection of African musical traditions and global sounds, blending West African influences with elements of jazz, funk, soul, Latin music and contemporary pop. Her ability to move between cultures and musical styles has helped make her one of Africa’s most internationally recognised musicians.
Born in Cotonou, Benin, Kidjo began her professional music journey decades ago and has released 19 albums since 1981.
Her catalogue and collaborations have earned her a reputation as not only a powerful vocalist but also one of Africa’s most influential musical ambassadors.
Kidjo is a five-time Grammy Award winner, having first won the Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2008.
She subsequently claimed the award for Best Global Music Album four times between 2015 and 2022, further cementing her dominance on the international music scene.
In 2023, she also received the prestigious Polar Music Prize, another recognition of her contribution to music and her influence beyond the African continent.
Her latest honour therefore arrives not as an isolated achievement, but as another chapter in a career that has consistently pushed African music onto the world’s biggest stages.
