Five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo has made history as the first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
According to Billboard, the Beninese singer was celebrated at a glittering ceremony on Tuesday at Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
This landmark honor also makes Kidjo the first Black African to be recognized with a star on the famed walkway. During her acceptance, Kidjo paid tribute to her team and family before captivating attendees with an impromptu performance.
We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world. Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet,” the 66-year-old musician declared.
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, praised Kidjo as an extraordinary artist, saying, Your example has elevated our global music community, and your work continues to remind us that music is more than entertainment; it’s connection.
This star is a permanent symbol of your achievements. But your legacy lives in the people you’ve touched, the barriers you’ve broken, and the connections you’ve created around the world.”
With a career spanning more than four decades and 18 albums, Kidjo is acclaimed globally. She has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, selected by the BBC as one of Africa’s 50 most iconic figures, and included by The Guardian among the world’s 100 most inspiring people.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame, a renowned landmark in Los Angeles, features more than 2,800 terrazzo-and-brass stars honoring leading figures in entertainment.
