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

Africa is about to have its name permanently embedded in the concrete of Hollywood Boulevard, and the woman making it happen is Angélique Kidjo. The five-time Grammy-winning musician will be honoured with the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 18 August at 11:30am PT at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, across the street from the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, receiving her star in the category of Recording. She will be the first Black African artist ever to receive this honour, a milestone that belongs not just to her but to the entire continent.

Joining Kidjo for the ceremony will be Willem Dafoe, the internationally acclaimed actor and four-time Academy Award nominee, and Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares. Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez summed up the significance of the moment clearly: “Angélique Kidjo’s extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents. We are proud to honour her as the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognising her remarkable contributions to music and culture around the world.”

For anyone coming to Angélique Kidjo’s story for the first time, here is who she is. Born in 1960 in what was then Dahomey, now the Republic of Benin in West Africa, she released her debut album Pretty in 1981 before moving to Paris in 1983 to escape the civil unrest caused by her country’s then-communist government. She eventually settled in Brooklyn, New York, establishing a storied legacy in global music. Over more than four decades, she has released 18 albums, blending West African musical traditions with funk, jazz, and R&B. She has won five Grammy Awards and was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

Her collaborators read like a who’s who of global music, featuring names like Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Philip Glass, Sting, and Alicia Keys. Beyond the studio, she has consistently used her platform to advocate for children’s rights and education across Africa. She also appeared in The Woman King, the story of the real-life female Agojie warriors of the 19th century starring Viola Davis, with her duet “Keep Rising” featured on the film’s soundtrack.

Until now, Charlize Theron, a white South African actress, was the only African-born star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, having received hers in 2005. Kidjo’s induction as the first Black African music artist marks a powerful shift in how the world recognises African talent at its highest levels. And she said it best herself: “This recognition is not just for me. It is for every African girl who dreams big.”