She is the first African musician and the first black African to receive a Star
Five-time Grammy-winning musician Angélique Kidjo will be honored with the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 18th at 11:30 am PT at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, across the street from the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Kidjo will receive her star in the category of Recording.
The historic honor arrives at a defining moment for African music, as artists from across the continent reach new audiences and reshape popular music around the world. Kidjo’s recognition carries particular weight: over the course of her four-decade career, she has helped open pathways for African artists on the global stage, making this star both a celebration of her singular legacy and a reflection of the movement she helped advance.
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 and a multi-Grammy and Emmy-nominated songwriter and producer. The ceremony will be emceed by Angelique Jackson.
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Angélique Kidjo to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” states Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer. “Angélique Kidjo’s extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents. We are proud to honor her as the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her remarkable contributions to music and culture around the world.” — Ana Martinez, Producer, Hollywood Walk of Fame
Kidjo is one of the most influential and acclaimed artists in international music, a creative force whose four-decade career has bridged cultures, generations, and genres. With eighteen albums to her name, Kidjo was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the world. Her many international honors include the 2015 Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland; the 2016 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award; the 2018 German Sustainability Award; the 2023 Vilcek Prize in Music; and the 2023 Polar Music Prize.
As a performer, Kidjo’s commanding voice, electrifying stage presence, and fluency across cultures and languages have earned the respect of her peers and built a global following. Throughout her career, she has brought the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin into conversation with American R&B, funk, jazz, and gospel, as well as music from Europe, Latin America, and across the African diaspora.
After exploring the musical roads of Africa’s diaspora, reimagining Talking Heads’ landmark album Remain in Light, paying tribute to iconic salsa singer Celia Cruz, and collaborating with generations of artists, Kidjo continues her expansive creative journey on her latest album, Hope! The 18th album in her widely acclaimed discography features Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Ayra Starr, Davido, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson, IZA, PJ Morton, and more. A music video for album standout “Bando,” featuring Pharrell Williams and Quavo, is also forthcoming. The project affirms Kidjo as a truly essential artist, one whose unbridled joy serves as a unifying force.
“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,” says Kidjo, who hails from the West African nation of Benin. “With this album I wanted to put some fire back in people’s hearts and show how much we need that joy and hope to keep our humanity going.”
Dedicated to Kidjo’s late mother, Hope! emerged from a period shaped by grief and renewal. “My mother used to tell me that hope is the bedrock of our existence,” says Kidjo. As the latest offering in a catalog that’s continually shown the transformative power of music, Hope! solidifies Kidjo’s legacy as a visionary artist whose sense of purpose has only grown stronger over time.
Kidjo also travels the world advocating on behalf of children as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. At the 2019 G7 Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron named her a spokesperson for the AFAWA initiative, or Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa, which works to help close the financing gap for women entrepreneurs across the continent. Kidjo also founded the Batonga Foundation, which has built a powerful, locally led movement advancing the education, leadership, and economic empowerment of girls and young women across Benin and Senegal, transforming lives, strengthening communities, and redefining what is possible for the next generation.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a celebration of art, entertainment, and all things Hollywood. Star ceremonies are broadcast worldwide, connecting fans with their favorite artists. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame on behalf of the City of Los Angeles. Honorees are selected by a committee of their peers. Sponsors fund the star, the ceremony, and the maintenance of the legendary attraction. The Walk of Fame is free to all.
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