{"id":439217,"date":"2026-08-21T08:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T08:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/439217\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T08:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T08:32:10","slug":"african-musician-angelique-kidjo-receives-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-san-gabriel-valley-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/439217\/","title":{"rendered":"African musician Angelique Kidjo receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star \u2013 San Gabriel Valley Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ang\u00e9liqueAng\u00e9lique Kidjo poses with her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during her star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n

Five-time Grammy-winning musician Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo this week became the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.<\/p>\n

Actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. joined Kidjo in speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday at 7011 Hollywood Blvd., across from the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.<\/p>\n

Dafoe described Kidjo as a performer whose music can transform the atmosphere of a venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen the power of her music to get an audience who were content at first to just sit and listen to jump up out of their chairs and fill the venue with dancing,\u201d Dafoe said during the ceremony. \u201cShe has an ability to bring people together in a celebration through her generosity, open-hearted talent. She brings joy and connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidjo and Dafoe have been friends since she was introduced to him following his performance in the play \u201cTo You, The Birdie!\u201d in the New York City borough of Brooklyn in 2002.<\/p>\n

During the ceremony, Kidjo reflected on Africa\u2019s cultural influence.<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo attends her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Actor<\/p>\n

Actor Willem Dafoe speaks at Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo and Nafi Diabete dance at Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo poses with her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during her star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Actor<\/p>\n

Actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. pose with Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo during her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo stands on her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during her star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo and her daughter Na\u00efma Hebrail Kidjo attends her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo kneels over her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during her star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Recording<\/p>\n

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. speaks at Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Beninese<\/p>\n

Beninese Minister of Culture Yassine Latoundji and Beninese Ambassador to the United States Agniola Ahouanmenou pose with Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo during her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Angelique<\/p>\n

Angelique Jackson, senior entertainment writer for Variety, serves as master of ceremonies for Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo kneels over her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during her star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"MAX<\/p>\n

MAX Percussion performs at Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Musician<\/p>\n

Musician Diane Warren takes a selfie with Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo during Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Angelique<\/p>\n

Angelique Jackson, senior entertainment writer for Variety, poses with Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo during Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo speaks at her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Actor<\/p>\n

Actor Willem Dafoe attends Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo\u2019s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo attends her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ang\u00c3\u00a9lique<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo poses with her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during her star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Actor<\/p>\n

Actor Willem Dafoe and Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo embrace during her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 20<\/p>\n

Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo attends her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is the first Black African musician to receive this honor. (Photo by Jacob Lewis, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve come from this country that (has) inspired the world through its culture. And we just don\u2019t know it. We Africans don\u2019t know what we\u2019ve given to the world, that we continue giving to the world for the music to exist. Without us, there\u2019s no music possible on this planet,\u201d Kidjo said.<\/p>\n

Mason hailed Kidjo as a rare artist whose influence extends beyond her musical achievements.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis star is a permanent symbol; it\u2019s not going anywhere, and it\u2019s a symbol of your achievements. But your legacy, it lives in the people that you\u2019ve touched, that you\u2019ve inspired, the barriers that you\u2019ve broken, the connections you\u2019ve created all around the world,\u201d Mason said.<\/p>\n

The ceremony comes one day after Kidjo performed at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Born in what is now the West African nation of Benin, Kidjo released the first of her 18 albums, \u201cPretty,\u201d in 1981. Her fourth album, \u201cLogozo,\u201d released in 1991, was her first to top Billboard\u2019s world music albums chart.<\/p>\n

Kidjo had two other albums top the Billboard world music albums chart \u2014 \u201cDjin Djin\u201d (2007) and \u201cEve\u201d (2014).<\/p>\n

She is a 16-time Grammy nominee, receiving her first in 1995 for best music video for \u201cAgolo.\u201d She won her first Grammy in 2008 on her fifth nomination for best contemporary world music album, \u201cDjin Djin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidjo won best global music album Grammys in 2015 for \u201cEve,\u201d in 2016 for \u201cSings,\u201d in 2020 for \u201cCelia\u201d and 2022 for \u201cMother Nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidjo\u2019s other honors include the 2015 Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum; the 2016 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award; the 2018 German Sustainability Award; the 2023 Vilcek Prize in Music; and the 2023 Polar Music Prize.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it feels as though the world is losing hope at such a rapid pace that it\u2019s endangering our humanity,\u201d Kidjo said in a biography on her website, kidjo.com. \u201cWith all the music that I create, I want to show that anything and everything is possible \u2014 and that despite what the political rhetoric might have us believe, we are all deeply connected.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope is that these songs bring happiness to everyone, but also remind them that we were all put here to help and love each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

The star is the 2,854th since the completion of the Walk of Fame in 1961 with the initial 1,558 stars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo poses with her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during her star ceremony on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":439159,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[7,1743,48,52,51,47,137,50,49,100,420],"class_list":["post-439217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-california","tag-hollywood","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-county","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-news","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=439217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439217\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/439159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=439217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=439217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=439217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}