Queen of African Music, Angélique Kidjo, To Receive a Star in Hollywood

She’s an NAACP Image Award winner and a multi-Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, activist. She is also one of the continent’s most internationally celebrated female artists.

With eighteen albums to her name, Angélique Kidjo, who hails from Benin, is widely revered as “Africa’s premier diva” and the “Queen of African Music.”

A five time Grammy award winner, she was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the world and Forbes has also recognized her as the most influential woman in Africa.

The historic honor arrives at a defining moment for African music, as artists from across the continent reach new audiences and reshape popular music around the world.

Kidjo’s recognition carries particular weight: over the course of her four-decade career, she has helped open pathways for African artists on the global stage, making this star both a celebration of her singular legacy and a reflection of the movement she helped advance.

Kidjo also travels the world advocating on behalf of children as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and also founded the Batonga Foundation, an organization that empowers young women across Benin and Senegal.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Angélique Kidjo to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” stated Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer. “Angélique Kidjo’s extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents. 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.”

She will be honored with the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Recording category on August 18 in Hollywood.

Other iconic Black musicians with Walk of Fame Stars include Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Bob Marley.

Samantha Ofole-Prince is a journalist and movie critic who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film. She serves as the Entertainment Editor for Trendy Africa.