Musician Angélique Kidjo recently became the first Black African performer to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Announced last Wednesday during a press conference, Kidjo was announced as one of the 35 names to be inducted as part of the Walk of Fame’s class of 2026. She will join singer Miley Cyrus, actor Demi Moore, actor Molly Ringwald, musicians Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, basketball player Shaquille O’Neal and actor Timothee Chalamet, who are all also set to be awarded with a star.
The date of the unveiling of the star is still unknown. There is a two-year span for recipients to hold an induction ceremony after their name has been announced.
“We are excited to announce the newest selections of 35 esteemed individuals who will be enshrined onto the Walk of Fame as part of the prestigious Class of 2026. These talented individuals have made significant contributions to the world of entertainment, and we are thrilled to honor them with this well-deserved recognition,” said the Chairman of the Hollywood Hall of Fame, Peter Roth. “Join us in celebrating their achievements and legacies as they take their place among the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
Born and raised in Benin, Kidjo grew up in a musical family, raised on the music of Yoruba and Beninese artists as well as Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and Santana. While she was a teenager, she made her radio debut with her adaptation of Miriam Makeba’s “Les Trois Z,” eventually recording an album with Cameroonian producer Ekambi Brilliant.
After leaving Benin for Paris due to political conflicts, Kidjo found success as the front singer of jazz/rock band Pili Pili. Since releasing her first solo album, Parakou, in 1989, she has gone on to release 15 more albums, including “Mother Nature,” “Õÿö” and “Djin Djin.”
Kidjo has received critical acclaim for her ability to blend West African music with the stylings of funk, jazz, rock and R&B.
Announced by the board of the Hollywood Walk of Fame as Africa’s “premier diva,” she is currently a five-time Grammy Award winner, winning the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album twice for her albums “Eve” and “Sings.” Kidjo has also received doctorates from Yale University and the Berklee College of Music as well as the Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the AllAfrica Leadership Award and the 2023 Polar Music Prize.
