Beninese music legend Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first Black African performer selected to receive a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing her legacy as one of Africa’s most influential cultural ambassadors.
The five-time Grammy Award winner was unveiled as part of the 2026 class, joining a distinguished group that includes Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Demi Moore, and NBA great Shaquille O’Neal.
Kidjo, hailed during the announcement as Africa’s “premier diva,” has spent over four decades shaping the global music scene with her dynamic voice and genre-bending artistry. Her fusion of West African rhythms with funk, jazz, and R\&B has captivated audiences worldwide, and her impressive roster of collaborators includes Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, Sting, and classical composer Philip Glass. She now joins Charlize Theron—honoured in 2005—as one of only two African performers to receive a star on the celebrated Los Angeles boulevard.
More than a musical powerhouse, Kidjo is a humanitarian at heart. A UNICEF and Oxfam goodwill ambassador, she also runs the Batonga Foundation, which supports the education of young girls across Africa. Reflecting on her early life under Benin’s communist regime, the 64-year-old has often spoken of how the loss of personal freedoms fuelled her determination to amplify African voices on the world stage. While the date of her induction ceremony is yet to be confirmed, her historic selection marks a powerful moment of recognition for African talent on a global platform.