Angélique Kidjo becomes first African musician to get Hollywood star
Africans are doing it yet again!
Africa's premier diva, as named by TIME Magazine, is continuing to make Africa very proud.
The five-time Grammy Award winner has become the first African musician and the first Black African to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Born in Benin, the 66-year-old musician has built an extraordinary international career spanning more than four decades.
"I may be the first African female singer to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but I am convinced that I will not be the last," Kidjo told AFP when her Hollywood star was announced last year.
"Many others will follow, and that fills my heart with joy," she said at the time.
According to OkayAfrica, Kidjo received the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"Angelique Kidjo's extraordinary artistry and global influence have inspired audiences across generations and continents," Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a news release.
"We are proud to honor her as the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognising her remarkable contributions to music and culture around the world."
Variety correspondent Angelique Jackson hosted the event, with Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr joining Kidjo.
Dafoe said that Kidjo is "without a doubt the hardest working woman in show business… [she's also] an incredibly kind and giving person and a real activist."
"I spent much of my career among artists, and every once in a while, you experience someone whose impact extends beyond the stage… someone who isn't just an artist, but there's purpose behind the art. Angélique is absolutely one of those rare artists," said Mason Jr.
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