From Cotonou to Hollywood: Angélique Kidjo Puts African Music in Walk of Fame History
Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, adding one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment honours to a career spanning more than four decades.
Kidjo received the 2,854th star in the Recording category on Tuesday, August 18, at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce had selected her as part of its Class of 2026, alongside artists including Miley Cyrus, Josh Groban, Lyle Lovett and the Clark Sisters.
The honour represents a significant moment for African music on the global stage. Kidjo becomes the first African musician — and specifically the first Black African performer — to have her name permanently represented on the famous Hollywood Boulevard landmark.
Born in Benin in 1960, Kidjo began performing at a young age before leaving the country for France in the 1980s. Her career has since developed into one of the most internationally successful African music stories.
She has released 16 albums and built a distinctive sound that combines West African traditions with Afrobeat, jazz, funk, R&B, reggae and Latin influences. Her international collaborations have included artists such as Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, Carlos Santana and Philip Glass.
The 65-year-old singer is also a five-time Grammy Award winner, making her one of the most decorated African artists in the history of the awards. Her recognition extends beyond music: she has worked with UNICEF and founded the Batonga Foundation, which supports education and opportunities for girls in Africa.
For African music, Kidjo’s Hollywood star carries significance beyond her personal career.
For decades, African musicians have influenced global popular music while often receiving limited recognition from some of the industry’s most prominent institutions. Kidjo’s honour places an African-born artist among the permanent names associated with Hollywood’s entertainment history.
The recognition also reflects the increasingly global reach of African music. From Afrobeat and Afropop to Amapiano and other contemporary African sounds, artists from the continent have gained growing international audiences and collaborations.
Kidjo has consistently used her platform to promote African culture while working across musical boundaries. Her career has helped demonstrate that African musical traditions can serve not only as cultural expressions but also as foundations for globally successful contemporary music.
The singer herself has previously described the significance of the honour in collective terms, saying it means the “door is open now to all of us.”
Her star on Hollywood Boulevard therefore arrives as both a celebration of an extraordinary career and a symbolic opening for generations of African musicians seeking recognition on the world’s biggest entertainment stages.
