Angélique Kidjo receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star, marking a milestone for African music

Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first African musician to receive the prestigious distinction.

The ceremony took place in Los Angeles, where Kidjo was honored in the Recording category as part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s Class of 2026. The recognition celebrates a career spanning more than four decades and marked by international success, cultural advocacy and a commitment to Africa.

A five-time Grammy Award winner, Kidjo has built a global reputation by blending Beninese musical traditions with jazz, funk, pop, reggae and other international influences. She has released 18 albums and collaborated with artists from across the world.

At the ceremony, Kidjo dedicated the honor to Africa, her family, the artists who came before her and younger generations.

The recognition adds to a long list of international honors for the singer, who has played a major role in bringing African music to global audiences.

A career rooted in Benin

Born in Ouidah, Benin, in 1961, Angélique Kidjo grew up in a family surrounded by music and performance. She began singing at a young age and later moved to Paris in 1983, where she continued her musical education and developed her career.

She moved to the United States in the late 1990s and established herself as one of Africa’s most internationally recognized artists.

Her breakthrough on the global stage was followed by five Grammy Awards, including her first win in 2008 for the album “Djin Djin.”

Beyond music, Kidjo has been a prominent advocate for education, women’s rights and opportunities for young people in Africa. She founded the Batonga Foundation in 2006, an organization focused on supporting the education of girls in Africa, and has also served as a UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador.

Her career has made her a cultural bridge between Africa and the rest of the world, while her activism has expanded her influence beyond the music industry.

Angélique Kidjo is a Beninese singer, songwriter and activist born in Ouidah, Benin, in 1961. She has built an international career spanning more than four decades and has released 18 albums.

She is a five-time Grammy Award winner and has worked with numerous international artists. Her music combines West African traditions, particularly those rooted in Benin, with global genres including jazz, funk, pop and reggae.

She is also known for her work promoting girls’ education and women’s empowerment in Africa through the Batonga Foundation.

In 2026, her career reached another historic milestone with the unveiling of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, further cementing her place among Africa’s most influential cultural figures.