The five-time Grammy winner has been recognized for a career that has carried the sounds and stories of Africa to audiences around the world.

Los Angeles, United States (Running Africa) — Beninese-French music legend Angélique Kidjo has made history by becoming the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The five-time Grammy winner was honored in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 18, receiving the 2,854th Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the Recording category.

The milestone adds another international achievement to a career spanning more than four decades and reinforces Kidjo’s place among the most influential African musicians of her generation.

Angélique Kidjo Receives Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Kidjo was selected by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce as part of its 2026 class of honorees, alongside international artists including Miley Cyrus and Josh Groban.

Her induction carries particular significance for African music, with the Beninese-born singer becoming the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The recognition celebrates a career that has taken the sounds of West Africa to some of the world’s biggest stages while helping introduce global audiences to African musical traditions.

Kidjo’s Four-Decade Career Has Taken African Music Global

Born in Benin, Kidjo has spent more than 40 years building a musical identity that crosses continents and genres.

Her work combines West African musical traditions with jazz, funk, R&B, and other global influences, creating a sound that has made her one of Africa’s most internationally recognized performers.

Kidjo has collaborated with artists from across the world while consistently placing African rhythms, languages, and cultural influences at the center of her music.

That ability to move between musical traditions has helped establish her as both a global performer and an ambassador for African music.

Five Grammy Awards Cement Angélique Kidjo’s Global Legacy

Kidjo’s international career has earned her five Grammy Awards, making her one of Africa’s most decorated musicians.

Among her Grammy-winning projects are Eve, Celia, and Mother Nature, albums that demonstrate the range of influences that have shaped her career.

Her success has also helped create greater international visibility for African artists at a time when music from the continent is playing an increasingly influential role in global popular culture.

While newer movements such as Afrobeats and Amapiano have accelerated that expansion, Kidjo was building bridges between African and international audiences decades earlier.

Angélique Kidjo’s Impact Extends Beyond Music

Kidjo has also used her international platform to advocate for girls’ education and women’s empowerment across Africa.

In 2006, she founded the Batonga Foundation, an organization focused on supporting vulnerable adolescent girls and young women and expanding their opportunities.

Her advocacy has become an important part of a career that has consistently connected music with wider social issues affecting African communities.

Hollywood Honor Marks Another First for African Music

Kidjo’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star represents more than an individual career milestone.

For African music, the recognition marks another moment of growing visibility within the global entertainment industry.

From generations of musicians who brought African sounds to international audiences to the contemporary artists now dominating streaming platforms and global stages, the continent’s influence on popular music has become increasingly difficult to overlook.

Angélique Kidjo has been part of that journey for more than four decades.

Now, with her name permanently placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Beninese-French icon has added another historic first to a career built on taking African music, culture, and identity to the world.