Angélique Kidjo Becomes First African Musician With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: ‘Without Us, There’s No Music Possible’

Angélique Kidjo has officially made history.

On Tuesday (Aug. 18), the five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, actress and activist became both the first African musician and the first Black African to be immortalized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Variety’s Angelique Jackson hosted the ceremony, which took place on a breezy California afternoon and drew a list of A-list creatives — including four-time Academy Award-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. — who gathered to celebrate Kidjo, 64, and her impressive four-decade career. Additional attendees included Academy Award-nominated, Benin-born actor Djimon Hounsou and Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold.

“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world, what we continue giving to the world; without us there’s no music possible [on] this planet,” Kidjo said in her speech, which also included her breaking into song before joyously dancing over her brand new star. Just before revealing the star, Ron Frierson, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, proclaimed Aug. 18 as Angélique Kidjo Day in Hollywood.

Hailing from Benin, Kidjo is one of the most important global figures in African music. In addition to her five Grammys, she’s also won the Polar Music Prize, performed at the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Tokyo, and sent 14 titles to the top 10 of World Albums. In 2021, TIME named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and in 2022, she performed the 1,000th NPR Tiny Desk concert.

Throughout her storied career, Kidjo has collaborated with a plethora of artists across genres, including Alicia Keys, Burna Boy, Yo-Yo Ma, Bono, Peter Gabriel and John Lennon. She is also the most Grammy-awarded artist in the best global music album category, with four of her five wins coming in the last decade. Her latest album, April’s Hope!!, features appearances by Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Davido, Charlie Wilson, PJ Morton, Ayra Starr and more.

“This star is a permanent symbol; it’s not going anywhere, and it’s a symbol of your achievements,” said Mason jr. “But your legacy, it lives in the people that you’ve touched, that you’ve inspired, the barriers that you’ve broken, the connections you’ve created all around the world… I spent much of my career among artists, and every once in a while, you experience someone whose impact extends beyond the stage… someone who isn’t just an artist, but there’s purpose behind the art. Angélique is absolutely one of those rare artists.”

“The first time I saw Angélique perform live, I thought her music, her dancing, her commitment were incredible,” Dafoe, a friend of Kidjo’s since 2002, said. “She is, without a doubt, the hardest-working woman in show business.” He also praised her years-long humanitarian work through her Batonga Foundation, which aims to empower girls and young women in Africa. “This is not a token celebrity involvement; it is an extension of what she does with her music. She stirs us, lifts us up, and reminds us that we’re all connected, and that love and understanding is the way.”

Check out a montage of Angélique Kidjo’s journey to her 2026 Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony below.