Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first African musician and the first Black African artist to receive the distinction. The 2,854th star, placed in the Recording category at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, was unveiled during an induction ceremony that also saw the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proclaim August 18 as “Angélique Kidjo Day” in Hollywood.
Kidjo joins South African actress Charlize Theron as only the second African-born entertainer immortalized on the historic boulevard. The recognition caps a four-decade career that has carried West African rhythms onto the world stage. Born in Ouidah, Benin, Kidjo relocated to Paris in the 1980s and built a discography spanning nineteen studio albums that fuse traditional Fon and Yoruba sounds with jazz, funk, R&B, and pop. Her work has earned five Grammy Awards, a Polar Music Prize, and a place on TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People.
The ceremony drew prominent figures from film and music. Hosted by Variety correspondent Angelique Jackson, the event featured remarks from Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe, a longtime friend, and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Beninese actor Djimon Hounsou and Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold also attended in support.
In her acceptance speech, Kidjo framed the honor as collective. “We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world, and what we continue giving to the world for music to exist,” she said. “It’s not just my star; it’s our star.”
Beyond her artistic output, Kidjo has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for children’s rights and education across the continent. The star on Hollywood Boulevard now stands as a permanent marker of her role in bringing African music to global audiences and opening doors for generations of artists who followed.
