Rabat – Angélique Kidjo has made Hollywood history as the first African singer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Franco-Beninese artist was honored Tuesday in Los Angeles, marking another milestone in a career spanning more than 40 years.
The five-time Grammy winner was joined at the ceremony by actor Willem Dafoe and producer Harvey Mason Jr., head of the Recording Academy behind the Grammy Awards.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which selects Walk of Fame honorees, celebrated Kidjo for helping pave the way for African artists on the international stage.
The honor was announced in July 2025, when Kidjo told AFP she was “joyful” to become the first African singer to receive a star on the Walk of Fame.
She also expressed hope that she would not be the last African singer to receive the distinction, saying many more would follow.
Kidjo’s career has always crossed musical and cultural boundaries. Discovered in the early 1980s by Chris Blackwell, the record executive known for his work with Bob Marley, she went on to mix African sounds with international influences.
Her work has included a reinterpretation of Ravel’s Boléro and collaborations with Nigerian stars including Davido and Burna Boy.
Beyond music, Kidjo has become a prominent voice on the international stage.
She has attended global forums including the World Economic Forum in Davos, where she has highlighted the work of Batonga, the organization she founded in 2006 to support girls’ education in Africa.
Now, her name joins one of Hollywood’s most recognizable landmarks, marking a major moment for both Kidjo and African music on the global stage.
