Angelique Kidjo to become first African musician to get Hollywood star

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 17: Angélique Kidjo performs on stage during An Evening With Angelique Kidjo at Grammy Museum on August 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Alison Buck/Getty Images for The Recording Academy/AFP (Photo by Alison Buck / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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Five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo is set to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, becoming the first African musician and first Black African to be recognized on the famed boulevard.

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Born in Benin, the artist has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and was once dubbed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine.

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“Angelique Kidjo’s extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents,” Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a news release.

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“We are proud to honor her as the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her remarkable contributions to music and culture around the world.”

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The 66-year-old musician will be accompanied by Oscar-nominated American actor Willem Dafoe and record producer Harvey Mason Jr at the ceremony on Tuesday morning.

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“I may be the first African female singer to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but I am convinced that I will not be the last,” Kidjo told AFP when her Hollywood star was announced last year.

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“Many others will follow, and that fills my heart with joy,” she said at the time.

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AFP

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