Kidjo Set to Become First African Musician Honoured on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Grammy-winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo is set to become the first African musician and the
first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The five-time Grammy Award winner will unveil the 2,854th star in the Recording category on August
18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. PT at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, across from the historic Hollywood Roosevelt
Hotel. The outdoor ceremony will be streamed live exclusively on walkoffame.com.
Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. are scheduled to
deliver special guest remarks. The event will be emceed by Variety correspondent Angelique Jackson.
Kidjo, born in Benin, left for Paris in 1983 and has built a global career spanning more than four decades.
She has released nearly 20 albums, blending West African traditions with funk, jazz, R&B and other
styles.
Her collaborators include Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, Sting, Philip Glass and, on her 2026 album HOPE!!,
Pharrell Williams and Quavo.
She has won five Grammy Awards, more than any other African musician, including Best Contemporary
World Music Album in 2008 and four Best Global Music Album awards between 2015 and 2022. She also
received the Polar Music Prize in 2023.
She joins South African-born actress Charlize Theron, who received her star in 2005, as one of the few
African-born figures represented on the Walk of Fame.
Organisers confirmed Kidjo as the first Black African artist and the first African musician to be honoured.
Kidjo shared the news on X, inviting fans with the message: “WHO IS COMING??? On August 18th,
Angelique Kidjo will be the FIRST BLACK AFRICAN ARTIST honored with a STAR on the HOLLYWOOD
WALK OF FAME at 11:30 am PT at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard…”
The selection was announced in 2025 as part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s Class of 2026. Kidjo has
long been described as “Africa’s premiere diva” and is recognised for her advocacy work, including
support for girls’ education through the Batonga Foundation.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
