{
  "id": 1820754,
  "title": "Angélique Kidjo Becomes First African Musician With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: ‘Without Us, There’s No Music Possible’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/angelique-kidjo-becomes-first-african-musician-with-a-star-on-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T22:38:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/angelique-kidjo-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-ceremony-1236319346/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Angélique Kidjo, a renowned five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, actress, and activist, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African musician and first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, August 18. The ceremony, hosted by Angelique Jackson, was attended by prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including four-time Academy Award-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Kidjo, 64, expressed her gratitude in her speech, acknowledging the significant impact Africans have had on the world, stating, \"Without us, there's no music possible on this planet.\" The star, officially named Angélique Kidjo Day in Hollywood, was presented to her by Ron Frierson, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, along with a heartfelt message from Mason Jr. highlighting Kidjo's unparalleled achievements and her enduring legacy. Kidjo's illustrious career includes winning the Polar Music Prize, performing at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, and receiving 14 top 10 albums worldwide. Her latest album, April's Hope!!, features collaborations with artists like Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Davido, and Ayra Starr.",
  "summary": "The Grammy-winning multihyphenate received glowing tributes from Harvey Mason jr. and Willem Dafoe.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}