Angélique Kidjo is the first African musician to be bestowed with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
She has won five Grammys.
Her career stretches over four decades.
The five-time Grammy-winning singer Angélique Kidjo has made history by becoming the first Black African to earn a spot at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“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,” Kidjo stressed in her speech. She received the 2854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her memorable award-winning songs include Djin Djin (2018), Eve (2015), Sings (2016), Celia (2020) and Mother Nature (2022)
Born in Benin, Kidjo left the country for Paris in 1983 amid political hostility. She has released 18 albums and earned 17 Grammy nominations, winning five times. Her first album was out when she was just 21. TIME included her on its annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2021. The ceremony honouring Kidjo was attended by Willem Dafoe and fellow Benin native Djimon Hounsou. Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold
Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy celebrated Kidjo as a "rare artist."
"Your example has elevated our global music community, and your work continues to remind us that music is more than entertainment; it's connection," he said. "This star is a permanent symbol; it's not going anywhere, and it's a symbol of your achievements. But your legacy, it lives in the people that you've touched, that you've inspired, the barriers that you've broken, the connections you've created all around the world", he added.
Willem Dafoe Praises Kidjo
Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe raved about Kidjo's tremendous energy on stage. "The first time I saw Angelique perform live, I thought her music, her dancing, her commitment were incredible. She is, without a doubt, the hardest-working woman in show business." He has been friend of Kidjo’s since 2002.
More impressive still, Dafoe emphasised, was her dedication to the humanitarian work of her Batonga Foundation, which seeks to empower girls and young women in Africa: "This is not a token celebrity involvement; it is an extension of what she does with her music. She stirs us, lifts us up and reminds us that we're all connected, and that love and understanding is the way."
