BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Beninese music legend Angélique Kidjo has reached another historic milestone in a career that has stretched across more than four decades, becoming the first Black African artiste to be honoured with a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The five-time Grammy Award winner received the honour as part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2026, placing her name alongside some of the biggest figures in global entertainment.
Kidjo was recognised in the Recording category, joining a distinguished group of artistes announced for the 2026 class, including Miley Cyrus, Josh Groban, Lyle Lovett, Air Supply, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The Clark Sisters and Brazilian percussionist Paulinho Da Costa. At the ceremony, the 66-year-old musician used the occasion to draw attention to the contribution Africa has made to the development of music around the world.
Rather than treating the star solely as a personal achievement, Kidjo connected the honour to her African roots and the musical traditions that have influenced her career.
She told the gathering: “We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world, without us, there’s no music possible on this planet.”
Born in Benin, Kidjo has spent more than 40 years building an international career that has taken her from West Africa to some of the world’s biggest stages.
With 18 albums to her name, she has developed a distinctive musical identity by blending West African traditions with sounds and influences from different parts of the world.
Her music has consequently reached audiences far beyond Africa, making her one of the continent’s most recognisable cultural ambassadors.
