Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo is set to make history on August 18, becoming the first African musician and the first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Kidjo will receive the 2,854th star in the Recording category during a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, directly across from the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
The ceremony will bring together some of the entertainment industry’s most influential figures. Oscar nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., a Grammy and Primetime Emmy nominated songwriter and producer, will join Kidjo for the occasion.
Variety correspondent Angelique Jackson will serve as master of ceremonies. The event will also be streamed live through the official Hollywood Walk of Fame website.
For African music, the recognition represents more than an individual career milestone. It signals the growing influence of African artists within the global entertainment economy and acknowledges a performer who has spent more than four decades building bridges between African culture and international audiences.
A career built across continents
Born in Benin, Kidjo moved to Paris in 1983 and went on to develop one of the most distinctive careers in international music.
Since beginning her recording career in 1981, she has released 18 albums according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, with a catalogue shaped by the sounds of West Africa and influences from funk, jazz, R&B, gospel, Latin music and the wider African diaspora.
Her ability to move between musical traditions has helped her establish a global audience while keeping her African heritage at the center of her creative identity.
Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards. She won Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2008 and later received four awards in the Best Global Music Album category between 2015 and 2022.
Her international recognition extends beyond the Grammy Awards. She received the Polar Music Prize in 2023, the Vilcek Prize in Music in 2023, the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award in 2015, the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2016 and the German Sustainability Award in 2018.
TIME has named Kidjo among the world’s 100 most influential people. The BBC has included her among Africa’s most iconic figures, while The Guardian has recognized her among the world’s most inspiring women.
Forbes has also recognized Kidjo as one of the most influential women in Africa.
From African roots to global influence
Kidjo’s influence has been amplified through collaborations with some of the biggest names in global music.
Her collaborators have included Burna Boy, Philip Glass, Sting, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Bono and Yo Yo Ma.
Her latest creative chapter continues that international approach.
Her album HOPE!! features artists including Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Ayra Starr, Davido, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson, IZA and PJ Morton.
The project reflects the same philosophy that has defined much of Kidjo’s career. African music does not have to exist on the margins of global culture. It can influence, collaborate and compete at the highest levels of the international entertainment industry.
“I started singing when I was six years old, and I’m grateful every day that I still get to live my passion and do what I love with my life,” Kidjo said.
She explained that HOPE!! was created to reignite optimism and remind audiences of the importance of joy and humanity.
The album was also shaped by personal loss following the death of her mother. Kidjo has described hope as a central value passed down to her by her mother, making the project both a creative statement and a personal tribute.
A recognition of African cultural power
The Hollywood Walk of Fame honor arrives as African music continues to expand its international commercial and cultural footprint.
Artists from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Benin and other African markets are increasingly reaching audiences beyond the continent, collaborating with global stars and influencing mainstream music.
Kidjo’s career predates much of the current global expansion of African music. Her journey demonstrates how African artists can build international relevance without abandoning the cultural foundations of their work.
That makes the Hollywood recognition particularly significant.
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Angélique Kidjo to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Angélique Kidjo’s extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents.”
According to Martinez, the honor recognizes Kidjo’s contribution to music and culture around the world.
Beyond music
Kidjo’s influence also extends into entrepreneurship, advocacy and social impact.
She serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has used her international platform to advocate for children and young people.
In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron named her a spokesperson for the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa initiative, known as AFAWA. The initiative seeks to help reduce the financing gap affecting women entrepreneurs across Africa.
Kidjo also founded the Batonga Foundation, which works to advance education, leadership and economic empowerment for girls and young women in Benin and Senegal.
That combination of cultural influence and social impact has become an important part of her legacy.
Her career illustrates how African creative leaders can build influence beyond entertainment and use cultural capital to drive conversations around education, gender, entrepreneurship and development.
A historic moment for African music
The Hollywood Walk of Fame has been a cultural landmark in Los Angeles since 1960, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.
Honorees are selected by a committee of their peers, while sponsors support the cost of the star, ceremony and maintenance of the attraction.
Kidjo’s induction therefore represents both personal recognition and a broader acknowledgment of Africa’s contribution to global popular culture.
Her star will join a landscape that has celebrated some of the most influential names in entertainment history.
For Kidjo, however, the significance extends beyond Hollywood Boulevard.
From Benin to Paris and from West African musical traditions to some of the world’s biggest stages, her four decade career has demonstrated the power of African creativity to cross borders and shape global culture.
On August 18, that journey will be permanently recognized on one of the world’s most famous entertainment landmarks.
