Angélique Kidjo Set To Become First African Honoured on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first African artist to be selected for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The announcement was made by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce during a press conference unveiling the Walk of Fame Class of 2026. Angélique Kidjo, a five-time Grammy Award winner, is among 35 honorees recognized for their significant contributions to the global entertainment industry.

Born in Cotonou, Benin, Angélique Kidjo has spent more than four decades redefining the global music landscape with her unique fusion of Afrobeat, funk, jazz, and traditional West African sounds. She began her career as a backing vocalist in France before launching her solo debut in 1990 with the album Parakou. Since then, she has released 16 albums and collaborated with an array of international artists, including Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, Sting, Philip Glass, and Carlos Santana. In recent years, she has continued to expand her influence with cross-generational partnerships featuring Davido, Yemi Alade, and Mr Eazi. Her 2023 duet with Davido titled Na Money and the 2024 anthem Joy have further cemented her status as a unifying voice of African resilience and creativity.

The Walk of Fame board finalized the 2026 list on June 25 after reviewing hundreds of global nominations. Other honorees include Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Demi Moore, Deepika Padukone, Lea Salonga, Rami Malek, Emily Blunt, Josh Groban, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Gordon Ramsay, and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. Charlize Theron, a white South African actress who received her star in 2005, remains the only other African-born recipient on the Walk of Fame.

Angélique Kidjo’s contributions extend far beyond music. She is a UNICEF and Oxfam Goodwill Ambassador and the founder of the Batonga Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational and leadership opportunities for adolescent girls in rural Africa. Her humanitarian work has earned recognition from BBC, TIME Magazine, and Amnesty International.

Peter Roth, chairman of the Walk of Fame selection committee, described the honorees as individuals who have made meaningful and lasting impacts in entertainment, adding that the committee was proud to celebrate their legacy. Following the announcement, inductees have up to two years to schedule their official star unveiling ceremonies. A specific date for Kidjo’s ceremony has not yet been confirmed.