Angélique Kidjo to make history as first African artist on Hollywood Walk of Fame

What the report says

Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which Sqoop Uganda says will make her the first Black African artist to be honoured on the landmark boulevard. The ceremony is scheduled for August 18 at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard, near the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The article says actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. are expected to speak at the event.

Kidjo’s recognition adds another milestone to a career that spans more than four decades. Sqoop Uganda reports that she was born in Benin, released her first album in 1981, later moved to Paris, and eventually settled in Brooklyn, where her international profile grew. She is known for mixing West African musical traditions with styles such as jazz, funk, R&B and pop, and has released 18 studio albums while winning five Grammy Awards.

The story also highlights Kidjo’s work beyond music, including advocacy for children’s rights and education in Africa. It notes that she has collaborated with major African artists and has appeared in film projects such as The Woman King. The honour matters because it places a leading African musician among the most visible symbols of global entertainment recognition, while underscoring the growing international reach of African music.

Sqoop Uganda adds that South African-born actress Charlize Theron was previously the only African-born personality with a star on the Walk of Fame, making Kidjo’s induction a first for a Black African artist.