Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo has become the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, receiving the 2,854th star on Los Angeles’ Hollywood Boulevard.

The 66-year old five-time Grammy winner has spent decades turning African sounds and stories into a global force.

Now, she has a star to match her legacy.

In her acceptance speech on Tuesday August 18, Kidjo said: We Africans don't know what we've given to the world, what we continue giving to the world; without us there's no music possible on this planet," …. "I may be the first, but I am convinced I will not be the last."

Born in 1960 in Benin, Kidjo began performing with her mother's theatre troupe as a child. She fled to France in 1983 to escape political repression, where she built an international following in Paris before eventually settling in the United States.

‘Africa’s star’

Over her career, she has released 18 albums blending traditional West African sounds with jazz, funk, and global pop, collaborating with several artists including Burna Boy, Alicia Keys, and Peter Gabriel. Her first Grammy came in 2008, and she has since earned five wins from 16 nominations.

Just days before the ceremony, Kidjo reflected on the honor's larger meaning in an interview with OkayAfrica magazine, saying: "It's not just my star, it's our star," she said, emphasizing that the achievement belonged to the entire continent.

Securing a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is no simple feat. Anyone—including fans, studios, or managers—can submit a nomination, provided the nominee gives formal consent.

The selection process is highly competitive, with approximately 200 applications received each year and only 24 to 30 stars awarded annually.

To qualify, nominees must have at least five years of professional achievement in their field, demonstrate global recognition, and show engagement in philanthropic work.

Once selected, a sponsorship fee of $85,000 is required to cover the creation, installation, and lifetime maintenance of the star. Honorees cannot choose their star's location, and they have two years to schedule their ceremony

Music milestones

Kidjo's achievement adds to a growing list of historic firsts for African artists in mainstream music.

In 1966, South African singing legend Miriam Makeba became the first African artist to win a Grammy Award. Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti has been honored posthumously with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2022, South African DJ and producer Black Coffee made history as the first African to win the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album. South African singer Tyla became the inaugural winner of the newly created Best African Music Performance Grammy category in 2024. Most recently, in early 2026, Nigerian superstar Wizkid became the first African artist to surpass 10 billion streams on Spotify.

Despite these milestones, many argue African artists remain institutionally marginalized.  Kidjo’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star now stands as both celebration and reminder that African artists are reshaping global music, but institutional recognition still has much ground to cover.