Angelique Kidjo Becomes First African Musician to Receive Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Five-time Grammy winner 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 Beninese music icon was honoured with the 2,854th star during a ceremony on Tuesday at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Born in Benin, Kidjo has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and was once dubbed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine. She has released 16 albums, won five Grammys from 16 nominations, and holds the Guinness World Record for the most global music album awards won at the Grammys. Her Grammy-winning projects include Djin Djin, Eve, Sings, Celia and Mother Nature. She has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Alicia Keys, Burna Boy, Bono, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Pharrell Williams and Davido.

The ceremony drew a host of A-list creatives, including Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who gathered to celebrate Kidjo and her four-decade career. Other attendees included Benin-born actor Djimon Hounsou and Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold. Ron Frierson, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, proclaimed August 18 as Angelique Kidjo Day in Hollywood.

READ MORE: Tinubu Government’s Indifference to Nigerian Lives Laid Bare as Counterfeit Alcohol Poisons and Kills

“Angelique Kidjo’s extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents,” Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a news release. “We are proud to honour her as the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognising her remarkable contributions to music and culture around the world.”

“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world, what we continue giving to the world; without us there’s no music possible on this planet,” Kidjo said in her speech, which also included her breaking into song before joyously dancing over her brand new star. “I may be the first African female singer to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but I am convinced that I will not be the last,” Kidjo told AFP when her Hollywood star was announced last year. “Many others will follow, and that fills my heart with joy.”

The 66-year-old musician has used her influence to campaign for children’s rights, girls’ education and improved opportunities for African women. She has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2002 and founded the Batonga Foundation, which supports girls and young women in Africa through education and skills development. In 2021, Time magazine named her among the 100 most influential people in the world, and in 2023 she received the Polar Music Prize. Her latest album, April’s Hope, features appearances by Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Davido, Charlie Wilson, PJ Morton and Ayra Starr.

About The Author

West Africa Weekly

author

See author's posts