Angélique Kidjo Makes History With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Grammy-winning singer Angélique Kidjo became the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 66-year-old musician from Benin has spent over 40 years bringing African music to global audiences.
When Angélique Kidjo received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday, it wasn't just a personal triumph. The five-time Grammy winner made history as the first Black African to earn this honor, opening doors for artists across an entire continent.
The ceremony in Los Angeles drew film and music stars who gathered to celebrate the 66-year-old Beninese-French singer's remarkable 40-year career. Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy called Kidjo a "rare artist" whose work reminds us that "music is more than entertainment—it's connection."
Actor Willem Dafoe praised her electrifying performances, calling her "without a doubt, the hardest-working woman in show business." But Kidjo's influence extends far beyond the stage.
In 2002, she became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founded the Batonga Foundation to empower and educate young women in Africa. The name "Batonga" came from a word Kidjo invented as a child in response to people who told her girls didn't belong in classrooms.
She's performed at the United Nations General Assembly, spoken at the Davos Forum, and sang at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in 2021.
The Ripple Effect
Kidjo's achievement resonates across Africa and beyond. Benin's President Romuald Wadagni wrote that she "has etched her name into history and raised the rhythms, creativity and dignity of our entire nation to the highest level."
Her words at the ceremony captured this perfectly: "We Africans don't know what we've given to the world. Without us, there's no music possible on this planet."
Kidjo has released 19 studio albums, with her latest, "HOPE!!" arriving this past April. Each project carries forward her mission of connecting cultures through music while lifting up communities, especially young women, who need support.
Mason Jr. reminded attendees that while the star is permanent, Kidjo's true legacy "lives in the people that you've touched, that you've inspired, the barriers that you've broken, the connections you've created all around the world."
After four decades of breaking barriers, Angélique Kidjo's star shines as a beacon for every African artist dreaming of reaching global stages.
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Based on reporting by Euronews
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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