Angélique Kidjo is first African artiste to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Singer, songwriter Angélique Kidjo is set to make history as the first African artiste to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The multi-Grammy-winning musician was named among 36 new inductees selected for the 2025 class, according to a 2 July announcement by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

The prestigious honour places Kidjo alongside global stars such as Miley Cyrus, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The Clark Sisters, and Lyle Lovett.

This marks a historic first for African music on the global stage; no African artiste has ever received a star on the famous walkway located on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Legacy

Kidjo’s inclusion testifies to her enduring legacy as one of the continent’s most celebrated and impactful musicians.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Kidjo has released 16 albums and earned five Grammy Awards out of 15 nominations. She holds the Guinness World Record for the most global music album awards won at the Grammys.

Famed for her unique ability to blend African folklore with global musical influences, Kidjo’s sound is both culturally rich and globally resonant. Her lyrics often explore themes of identity, unity, and resilience.

Beyond music, she is also a committed activist and Pan-Africanist who consistently advocates for solidarity across the African diaspora.

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The exact date for her star unveiling has not yet been announced. Per Walk of Fame tradition, honorees have up to two years from the announcement to schedule their induction ceremony.

Other honourees

Other celebrities selected in the 2025 class include American-French actor Timothée Chalamet, recently nominated for portraying Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.
Oscar winners Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose).
British director Tony Scott and Italian special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi, who will be honoured posthumously.

About Angélique Kidjo:

Born and raised in Benin, Kidjo left for Paris in 1983 amid political oppression from the then-communist government. “From the moment the communist regime arrived in Benin, I became aware that the freedom we enjoy can be snatched away in a second,” she told the BBC in 2023.

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Driven by deep curiosity, Kidjo recalled her childhood nickname as “when, why, how?” a reflection of her desire to understand the world around her.

Before launching her solo career with the 1990 album Parakou, she worked as a backup vocalist in France.

She currently serves as a UNICEF and Oxfam goodwill ambassador and is the founder of the Batonga Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering and educating young girls in Africa.