By Ghazali Ibrahim
Beninese-French music icon Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first African musician and first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The five-time Grammy Award winner was honoured on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, during a ceremony in Los Angeles, where she unveiled the 2,854th star in the recording category at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard.
The landmark recognition caps more than four decades of Kidjo’s international music career, during which she has released 18 albums and built a reputation for blending African musical traditions with genres including jazz, funk, salsa and gospel.
Speaking at the ceremony, the 66-year-old singer said the honour represented more than a personal achievement, describing it as recognition of Africa’s contribution to global music.
“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world. Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet.”
Kidjo also described the honour as a collective achievement, saying: “It’s not just my star, it’s our star,” while expressing hope that she would not be the last African artist to receive the recognition.
Actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy Chief Executive Officer Harvey Mason Jr. were among those who spoke at the ceremony.
Mason praised Kidjo’s influence on the global music community, saying her legacy extended beyond her artistic achievements to the people she had inspired and the barriers she had broken.
Dafoe, who has known Kidjo since 2002, also praised her energy as a performer and highlighted her humanitarian work, particularly through the Batonga Foundation, which focuses on empowering and educating young women in Africa.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce also proclaimed August 18 as Angélique Kidjo Day in Hollywood ahead of the unveiling.
Kidjo’s latest achievement adds to a long list of international honours.
She has won five Grammy Awards and has been recognised by Time magazine among the world’s 100 most influential people.
She has also received the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award and the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame honour places Kidjo among some of the most celebrated figures in global entertainment and marks a significant moment for African music on one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment landmarks.
For Kidjo, however, the star is not simply a symbol of personal success but a platform for Africa and its artists.
“This is not just my star, it’s our star,” she said, reinforcing her belief that the recognition should open the door for more African musicians to receive global acclaim.
