Angelique Kidjo becomes first African musician to get Hollywood star

Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo has become the first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Kidjo received the star in the Recording category at a ceremony held at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, United States, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

The historic recognition makes Kidjo the first African musician and first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The ceremony featured actor Willem Dafoe and music executive Harvey Mason Jr. as guest speakers.

Kidjo, a five-time Grammy Award winner, has built an international career spanning music, culture, and humanitarian advocacy.

She has also used her music to promote African culture and support social causes.

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The Hollywood Walk of Fame honour adds to her long list of international recognitions and further highlights the growing global profile of African music.

Hollywood Walk of Fame is a famous public landmark in Los Angeles, featuring over 2,800 terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks to honour major figures in the entertainment world.

The walk of fame star is a permanent, five-pointed pink, and charcoal monument embedded in the sidewalk to honour people and characters for major achievements in entertainment.