Angélique Kidjo Is Making Hollywood History as the First Black African Artist to Receive a Walk of Fame Star

Angélique Kidjo Makes History with Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

On August 18, Hollywood Boulevard will witness a monumental shift in its nearly century-long history. Beninese music legend Angélique Kidjo is set to receive the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first Black African artist ever to claim this iconic honor. The ceremony, scheduled for 11:30am PT at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, represents more than just another name in the pavement—it’s a long-overdue recognition of African excellence on one of entertainment’s most visible stages.

The five-time Grammy winner’s journey to this moment spans over four decades of groundbreaking artistry. Born in 1960 in what was then Dahomey (now the Republic of Benin), Kidjo released her debut album Pretty in 1981 before political turmoil forced her to relocate to Paris in 1983. She eventually made Brooklyn, New York her home, where she built an extraordinary career that defies easy categorization. Across 18 albums, she’s masterfully woven West African musical traditions with funk, jazz, and R&B, creating a sound entirely her own. Her influence extends far beyond accolades—TIME magazine named her among the world’s 100 most influential people, and her collaborations read like a masterclass in bridging generations and genres: Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Philip Glass, Sting, and Alicia Keys have all shared studio space with the icon.

What makes this honor particularly significant is the gap it fills. Until now, South African actress Charlize Theron, who received her star in 2005, stood as the only African-born honoree on the Walk of Fame. Kidjo’s induction as the first Black African music artist rewrites that narrative. She’ll be joined at the ceremony by four-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., with Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez calling Kidjo’s “extraordinary artistry and global influence” a source of inspiration “across generations and continents.” Beyond her musical prowess, Kidjo has consistently leveraged her platform for advocacy, championing children’s rights and education throughout Africa, and even appearing in The Woman King, contributing the powerful duet “Keep Rising” to the film’s soundtrack.

This star isn’t just Kidjo’s—it belongs to every African artist who’s been told the global stage wasn’t meant for them. It’s a permanent marker that African music has always been world music.

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