Angélique Kidjo has made history yet again, this time on the streets of Hollywood. On July 3, 2025, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce revealed that Kidjo, from Benin, is the first Black African artist ever chosen for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.
- Angélique Kidjo has become the first Black African artist to be recognized with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, announced on July 3, 2025, as part of the Class of 2026.
- The Walk of Fame board made their selection on June 25, 2025, with the unveiling ceremony to occur within two years.
- Kidjo, born in Benin in 1960, has profoundly impacted global music by blending African rhythms with international genres.
The African music sensation joins a remarkable lineup for the Class of 2026, including Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Deepika Padukone (who becomes the first Indian actress to earn the award), Shaquille O’Neal, and more.
The Walk of Fame board accepted her selection on June 25, 2025, after reviewing hundreds of international nominations, as seen on Forbes Africa.
While the specific unveiling date has not been set, awardees have up to two years to prepare their ceremonies.
Kidjo was born in 1960 in what was then Dahomey (now Benin), and grew up immersed in music, drama, and dance.
She released her first album, Pretty, in 1981 before going to Paris in the wake of a political crisis.
There, she perfected her craft by combining West African rhythms with jazz, funk, R&B, Latin, and gospel elements.
With that said, here are 5 interesting facts about the artist.
5 interesting facts about Angélique Kidjo
Five-Time Grammy Winner
Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary World Music Album for Djin Djin (2008), Eve (2015), Sings (2016), Celia (2020), and Mother Nature (2022).
Time 100 and Polar Music Prize Honoree
Angélique Kidjo was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2021 and awarded the prestigious Polar Music Prize in 2023, cementing her place as a global cultural icon.
Generational Music Collaborations
Despite beginning her musical career in the 80s, Angélique Kidjo’s collaborations with other artists have spanned 5 decades and different continents, from working with Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, and Bono, to more recent cross-generational collaborations with Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Davido, and Mr Eazi.
Educator & Honored Scholar
The famous and highly accomplished Benin artist holds multiple honorary awards from numerous academies, including Yale (2015), Berklee (2010), Middlebury (2014), and UCLouvain (2020), recognizing her artistic brilliance and advocacy.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Since 2002, she has been appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, using her platform to advocate for children’s rights, girls’ education, immunizations, and maternal health, traveling globally to support UNICEF projects
