Angélique Kidjo Becomes First African Musician on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Angélique Kidjo, the five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and activist, made history on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, becoming the first Black African and the first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, under clear skies.

The Beninese-French artist was honored with the 2,854th star in the Recording category, a selection made by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce as part of its Class of 2026. The event was hosted by Variety's Angelique Jackson and featured speeches from actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. In a moment of national pride for her home country, the government of Benin sent an official delegation, including its Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Yassine Latoundji.

During the ceremony, Kidjo unveiled her star and addressed the crowd. "We Africans don't know what we've given to the world, what we continue giving to the world," she said. "Without us, there's no music possible on this planet." She then broke into song, dancing over the newly revealed monument.

Harvey Mason Jr. praised Kidjo as a "rare artist" whose impact extends beyond...