Angélique Kidjo Wins First African Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Celebration erupted on Tuesday as five‑time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo, 66, was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, making her the first African musician to receive the distinction.

The ceremony, held on a glossy red carpet, drew big names including Willem Dafoe, Beninese actor Djimon Hounsou and Nigerian star Adekunle Gold. Kidjo, a Benin native who fled the country in 1983 because of political repression, announced that the star “expresses that our music can bring people together” and “reminds us that, no matter where we come from, we all belong to one human family.”

For more than four decades, Kidjo has merged West‑African rhythms with jazz, funk and pop. Her latest album, HOPE!!, features collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Ayra Starr, Quavo and Diane Warren.

The event also spotlighted Kidjo’s humanitarian work. She is a UNICEF and Oxfam goodwill ambassador and co‑founder of the Batonga Foundation, aiming to support vulnerable girls and women in Benin.

Walk of Fame authorities said this milestone signals a broader cultural bridge between African artists and the global music community.