GRAMMY WINNER ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO GETS HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME STAR
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Beninese music icon was honoured on Tuesday during a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles, where she unveiled her star along the famous Hollywood Boulevard.
Speaking at the ceremony, the 66-year-old singer reflected on Africa’s immense contribution to global music, saying Africans often underestimate the impact their culture has had on the world.
Kidjo, who has enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades and 18 albums, also entertained guests with an impromptu performance after thanking her family and team.
Born in Benin, the celebrated singer has established herself as one of Africa’s most influential global artists. She has been recognised by Time magazine among the world’s 100 most influential people and has received several other international honours.
Recording Academy chief executive Harvey Mason Jr. described Kidjo as a “rare artist,” praising her ability to connect people across cultures through music.
He said the Hollywood star represents her achievements, while her true legacy lies in the people she has inspired, the barriers she has broken and the connections she has created worldwide.
Actor Willem Dafoe also praised Kidjo’s exceptional stage presence and described her as one of the hardest-working women in show business.
Beyond music, Dafoe highlighted her humanitarian efforts through the Batonga Foundation, which focuses on empowering girls and young women in Africa.
He described her humanitarian work as a natural extension of her music, noting that Kidjo continues to inspire people through her commitment to connection, love and understanding.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame honour further cements Kidjo’s status as a global African music icon and one of the continent’s most celebrated cultural ambassadors.
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