Angélique Kidjo Becomes First African Woman With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
- Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo unveiled her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, 18 August 2026
- The five-time Grammy winner attended the ceremony alongside film stars and music industry figures in Hollywood
- Kidjo opened up about the milestone in a moving post-ceremony interview, staying true to her humble nature
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Source: Getty Images
Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first African woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the moment has set social media ablaze with both celebration and debate.
The 66-year-old Beninese singer was honoured at a star-unveiling ceremony on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, on the iconic Hollywood strip. Event footage shared by E! News on X captured Kidjo kneeling beside her newly revealed star, sweeping the pavement and posing joyfully with two male companions as the crowd celebrated around her. The footage carries a warm, jubilant energy that reflects exactly how fans feel about the achievement.
Kidjo's Words After the Ceremony
Speaking to RFI's Clothilde Hazard shortly after the unveiling, the five-time Grammy winner was visibly moved. "I never imagined I'd be here – never," she said. She used the platform to reflect on what the recognition means beyond herself: "In this moment of chaos we're living through, moments like this give me hope, a reminder that when we work together and set aside the rhetoric of hatred and division, we create beauty everywhere."
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The ceremony drew film stars and music industry heavyweights, underscoring the weight of Kidjo's standing in global culture.
Africa reacts to milestone
The footage sparked a wide-ranging conversation online, with many questioning, praising, and contextualising the milestone.
@ThuliMadonsela3 wrote:
"Congratulations to Angélique Kidjo for the well-deserved recognition and career milestone. She inspires Africa"
@Champagnep80097 said:
"She is so humble and deserves it all"
@Vosti79315584 had another African star in mind:
"@Lupita_Nyongo should be next please 🇰🇪"
@Kortesofficial raised a counterpoint:
"Charlize Theron is a South African, which means she is not the first African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."
@aleh74369 questioned the timing:
"Nice, but before Brenda Faci?"
@TheLawSupreme asked:
"Because it is paid for, is it still an achievement?"
@saddiwih offered a different perspective:
"What significance does it bring? We loved and honoured her without it."
Tupac receives star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In a previous report from Briefly News, the late rap icon Tupac Shakur received his star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Accepting the star on behalf of the Shakur family, his sister Sekyiwa 'Set' Shakur shared his dreams of one day having a star
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Source: Briefly News
