Five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first African musician and the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The 66-year-old Beninese singer was honoured at a ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, where she received the 2,854th star in the Recording category.
Born in Ouidah, Benin, Kidjo has built an international career spanning more than four decades and 18 albums.
Her music blends the sounds of her Beninese roots with genres including funk, jazz and pop, helping to bring African music and culture to audiences around the world.
Kidjo is also one of Africa’s most decorated musicians, having won five Grammy Awards.
Her Grammy-winning projects include Djin Djin, Eve, Sings, Celia and Mother Nature.
She has also been recognised internationally for her cultural and humanitarian work and was named among TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Her career has also included collaborations with major international artists, further strengthening her role as a bridge between African music and the global music industry.
Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. were among those who joined Kidjo at the event.
Benin-born actor Djimon Hounsou and Nigerian musician Adekunle Gold were also in attendance.
Dafoe praised Kidjo for her work ethic, kindness and activism, while Mason described her as a rare artist whose impact extends beyond the stage.
