Angélique Kidjo Makes History as First Black African Honoured on Hollywood Walk of Fame

History was made on August 18, 2026, as five-time Grammy-winning Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo became the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star, the 2,854th on the famous boulevard, was unveiled in a ceremony in Los Angeles, with Hollywood actor Willem Dafoe among the guest speakers. 

Born in Ouidah, Benin, Kidjo began performing at a young age, influenced by her mother, a theatre director, and her musician father. She later moved to Paris in the 1980s, where she developed the international career that would make her one of Africa’s most celebrated musical exports. Over four decades, she has blended Beninese rhythms and African musical traditions with jazz, funk, soul, pop and other global sounds, refusing to let her African identity limit her artistry. 

Her career is already filled with major achievements. Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards, received the Polar Music Prize, the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award, the World Economic Forum Crystal Award, and the United Nations Champions of the Earth Award. She has also received honorary doctorates from institutions including Yale University and Berklee College of Music and was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

Beyond music, Kidjo has used her global platform to advocate for women’s rights, education and social justice, including through the Batonga Foundation, which focuses on expanding educational opportunities for girls in Africa. Her influence has therefore extended far beyond the stage.

Her Hollywood honour is  significant because it recognises not simply a successful musician, but an African woman who spent decades bringing African culture and creativity to a global audience. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce selected her as part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2026 under the Recording category. 

For the Black community and Africa, the moment carries a meaning that goes beyond entertainment. For decades, African artists have contributed enormously to global culture while often receiving recognition through Western interpretations of African music and identity. Kidjo’s star places an African-born Black woman permanently among some of the world’s most recognisable entertainment figures.