Beninese-French music icon Angelique Kidjo has made history as the first African musician and first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The five-time Grammy winner, 66, was honored Tuesday with the landmark’s 2,854th star during a ceremony at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Anadolu Agency reported.
Kidjo received the star in the recording category, marking a major milestone not only in her career but also in the global recognition of African music.
“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world. Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet,” Kidjo said during the ceremony, dedicating the moment to Africa’s broader cultural and musical influence.
Actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy Chief Executive Harvey Mason Jr. were among the guest speakers at the event.
Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez praised Kidjo’s decades-long influence and her ability to connect with 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,” Martinez said.
Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni also celebrated the achievement, saying Kidjo had “etched her name into history.”
The singer was born in Ouidah, Benin, in 1960 and began performing as a child. She moved to France in the 1980s, where she continued developing a career that would eventually span more than four decades.
Across 18 albums, Kidjo has blended West African musical traditions with R&B, funk, jazz, gospel, reggae and Latin American influences.
Her extensive list of collaborators includes Alicia Keys, Burna Boy, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Philip Glass and Yo-Yo Ma.
Kidjo has earned numerous international honors beyond her five Grammy Awards, including the 2023 Polar Music Prize, Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award and the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award.
Time magazine named her one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2021.
Her work has also extended beyond music. Kidjo has served as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and founded the Batonga Foundation, which focuses on education and economic empowerment for girls and young women in Africa.
Her Hollywood Walk of Fame star adds another landmark to a career that has helped bring African musical traditions to audiences around the world.
News.Az
By Aysel Mammadzada
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