Angélique Kidjo to Earn a Star on the Hollywood Wa...

Angélique Kidjo to Earn a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Zim Now Writer

Music icon and global activist Angélique Kidjo has become the first African artist to be selected for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a groundbreaking moment that amplifies African voices on one of the world’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce unveiled its Class of 2026 on July 2, placing Kidjo among a diverse list of global luminaries including Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Shaquille O’Neal, Demi Moore, and Bollywood star Deepika Padukone.

Spanning music, film, television, sports, and stage, this year’s class reflects a growing embrace of global culture — but it is Kidjo’s selection that carries a uniquely historic weight.

Born in Ouidah, Benin, in 1960, Kidjo’s career spans over four decades of musical brilliance, activism, and cultural diplomacy. She began singing at the age of six, later earning

global recognition for her genre-bending sound that fuses Afrobeat, jazz, funk, and traditional West African rhythms. With five Grammy Awards, Kidjo is widely regarded as one of the world’s most decorated and respected musicians.

Beyond the stage, she has long championed education, women’s rights, and social justice. Her Batonga Foundation focuses on empowering girls in Africa, and as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she continues to speak globally on issues affecting youth and gender equality. Her work is not just performance—it is purpose.

Kidjo’s honor arrives at a time when African music is experiencing a global rise, with genres like Afrobeats breaking into international charts and festivals. Still, no African artist had received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—until now.

For Kidjo, this recognition is not only personal; it is a powerful symbol of African presence within the heart of global pop culture.

Her upcoming star will mark not just fame, but legacy—etched with the rhythm of ancestry, migration, and resilience. It is a nod to her lifelong mission: to bring Africa to the world’s stage, unapologetically and beautifully.