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Angélique Kidjo, the globally celebrated musical icon, has been selected to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking her as the first Black African performer to achieve this honor.
The Benin-born, five-time Grammy Award-winning artist was among the 35 honorees announced for the Walk of Fame’s class of 2026.
During the official announcement on Wednesday, the 64-year-old Kidjo was recognized as Africa’s “premier diva.”
Joining Kidjo on the list of honorees are prominent figures like singer Miley Cyrus, actor Timothée Chalamet, actress Demi Moore, and former basketball player Shaquille O’Neal.
This recognition comes after more than four decades of musical innovation and 16 album releases from Kidjo.
Kidjo’s commanding vocals and her signature fusion of West African rhythms with funk, jazz, and R&B have garnered her a devoted global fanbase.
Her extensive list of collaborators includes notable artists such as Burna Boy, Philip Glass, Sting, and Alicia Keys.
Kidjo will join Charlize Theron, a South African actress, in representing Africa on the Walk of Fame, which boasts over 2,700 stars.
Theron received her star in 2005.
The specific date for Kidjo’s star unveiling has yet to be announced.
Honorees have a two-year window to schedule their induction ceremonies after selection.
Kidjo’s journey began in Benin, but she relocated to Paris in 1983, citing political oppression under the then-communist regime.
“From the moment the communist regime arrived in Benin, I became aware that the freedom we enjoy can be snatched away in a second,” she told the BBC in 2023.
She attributed her life’s trajectory to a deep-seated curiosity, noting, “my nickname was ‘when, why, how?’. I want to understand things, to understand my place in this world.”
Kidjo initially worked as a backing vocalist in France before launching her solo career in 1990 with the album *Parakou*.
She serves as a goodwill ambassador for Unicef and Oxfam and founded Batonga, a charity dedicated to supporting the education of young girls in Africa.
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