Angélique Kidjo, a 66-year-old musician from Benin, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, becoming the first African musician to achieve this milestone. The ceremony drew family members, friends, and notable figures including actors Willem Dafoe and Djimon Hounsou, as well as Nigerian musician Adekunle Gold. The event featured musical performances and celebrations of Kidjo’s four-decade career spanning multiple continents and musical genres.
Kidjo has built an influential career by blending African sounds with funk, jazz, and pop influences, introducing these styles to global audiences. Throughout her career, she has released 18 albums, earned five Grammy Awards from 17 nominations, and collaborated with major artists including Burna Boy, John Legend, Bono, and Alicia Keys. Earlier this year, she released an album titled HOPE!! featuring tracks produced by Pharrell Williams and additional collaborations with artists such as Ayra Starr and Nile Rogers. Her recognition extends beyond music; she received the 2023 Polar Music Prize and was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2021.
Kidjo left Benin in 1983 due to the country’s communist government, which she cited as a threat to personal freedoms. Beyond her musical achievements, she serves as a goodwill ambassador for Unicef and Oxfam, and co-founded the Batonga Foundation, an organization supporting vulnerable young girls and women in her home country. At the ceremony, Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, noted her ability to connect cultures and unite audiences across different backgrounds through her work.
With this honor, Kidjo joins South African actress Charlize Theron as African representatives on the Walk of Fame, which currently contains more than 2,800 stars.
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