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“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world. Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet.”
Powerful words from five-time Grammy winner, actress and activist Angelique Kidjo, who has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and 18 albums.
She has now made history by becoming the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The ceremony, which took place yesterday in Los Angeles, marked a milestone for African music and saw several film and music stars attend to celebrate the triumph of the 66-year-old Beninese-French singer.
Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy hailed Kidjo as a “rare artist.”
“Your example has elevated our global music community, and your work continues to remind us that music is more than entertainment,” he said. “It’s connection.”
“This star is a permanent symbol; it’s not going anywhere, and it’s a symbol of your achievements,” added Mason Jr. “But your legacy, it lives in the people that you’ve touched, that you’ve inspired, the barriers that you’ve broken, the connections you’ve created all around the world.”
Her achievement was also recognised by Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni, who wrote in a Facebook post: “By becoming the first African artist to receive this global honour, the Beninese icon has etched her name into history and raised the rhythms, creativity and dignity of our entire nation to the highest level.”
As for celebrated actor Willem Dafoe, he praised Kidjo’s energy on stage.
“The first time I saw Angelique perform live, I thought her music, her dancing, her commitment were incredible,” said Dafoe. “She is, without a doubt, the hardest-working woman in show business.”
Dafoe also mentioned Kidjo’s humanitarian commitment and her dedication to the Batonga Foundation, which strives to empower and educate young women in Africa. Kidjo invented the word “Batonga” as a child as a response to those who told her that girls did not belong in the classroom.
“This is not a token celebrity involvement,” said Dafoe. “It is an extension of what she does with her music. She stirs us, lifts us up, and reminds us that we’re all connected, and that love and understanding is the way.”
Kidjo has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2002 and is a regular at international summits, such as the Davos Forum, where she promotes the work of her charity.
She has sung at the United Nations General Assembly, was named as the spokesperson for the AFAWA initiative (Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa) at the G7 Summit in 2019, and performed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
As well as being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2021, Kidjo has also been nominated as one of Africa’s 50 most iconic figures by the BBC, and one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by The Guardian.
