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Five-time Grammy Award winner, Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicating the emotional achievement to Africa.
The Beninese music icon, 66, was honoured in Los Angeles for her four-decade career, surrounded by family, friends and fellow stars including actors Willem Dafoe and Djimon Hounsou, as well as Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold.
Kidjo became emotional during the ceremony as she reflected on her late parents and their influence on her musical journey.
Kidjo calls for greater support for African artistes
Speaking to the BBC, Angélique Kidjo said Africans needed to recognise the contribution their continent has made to global music.
She said, “Let’s celebrate our artists in their own right on the continent. Let’s give them visibility, strength, because music creates economy.”
Kidjo also called for stronger systems to ensure African musicians receive royalties and can build sustainable careers on the continent.
The singer, who grew up in Benin before moving to Paris at 23, has spent decades blending West African sounds with funk, jazz, pop and R&B.
A milestone for African music
Kidjo’s Hollywood Walk of Fame honour adds to a remarkable career that includes five Grammy wins, 18 albums and 17 Grammy nominations. She also received the 2023 Polar Music Prize and was named among Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2021.
At the ceremony, Dafoe praised her extraordinary work ethic and described her as an exceptional performer, songwriter, musician and activist.
Kidjo joins South African actress Charlize Theron as an African-born personality represented on the Walk of Fame, which has more than 2,800 stars.
Reflecting on the significance of the milestone, Kidjo said, “Changes that last take time.”
Her latest album, HOPE!!, features collaborations with artists including Ayra Starr, Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Nile Rodgers and Diane Warren, further underscoring her enduring influence on global music.