LOS ANGELES, Nigeria — Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo is poised to make history as the first African musician and the first Black African performer to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony is scheduled for August 18 at 11:30 a.m. PT on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Kidjo's recognition marks her as the second entertainer born in Africa to receive this honor, following South African actress Charlize Theron, who was awarded her star in 2005. The event will feature notable figures such as Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Grammy and Primetime Emmy-nominated songwriter and producer Harvey Mason Jr., who also serves as chief executive of the Recording Academy and MusiCares.

Born in Benin, Kidjo relocated to Paris in 1983 and has since cultivated an international career that spans over four decades. The 64-year-old artist has garnered five Grammy Awards, including four for Best Global Music Album between 2015 and 2022. She also received the Polar Music Prize in 2023.

With 19 albums released since 1981, Kidjo is widely celebrated for her unique fusion of West African musical traditions with genres such as funk, jazz, and R&B. Her extensive list of collaborators includes prominent artists like Nigerian star Burna Boy, Sting, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Bono, Yo-Yo Ma, and Philip Glass.

The ceremony honoring Angélique Kidjo will be accessible globally through a live stream on the official Hollywood Walk of Fame website.