So with all the buzz about Angélique Kidjo getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I had to share a bit about her. She's the real deal when it comes to Black excellence—the first female African musician to receive this honor.
I'll admit, I only knew her from "Agolo," which I love. That one song made me dig into her story, and honestly, it's amazing and absolutely worth celebrating.
This five-time Grammy winner made history as the first African musician to get a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Talking to the BBC, she said she wants to dedicate it to her home continent.
"This star is for all the continent of Africa. Because if I was not African, would I be here?" said the 66-year-old icon from Benin.
At the Los Angeles ceremony, she emphasized how vital Africans are to music history.
"Without the blues brought by the slaves in America, there's no R&B, there's no rock and roll, there's no soul music, there's no jazz. All of it comes from Africa."
Black excellence means chasing your dreams while lifting others up, and she's been doing exactly that. In 2006, Angélique founded Batonga to transform vulnerable adolescent girls in Africa into powerful women. Her message celebrates Africa as a land of hope and talent, and she sees its youth—especially young women—as an investment for the future.
She's determined that all girls must choose their own destiny, and she works tirelessly with Batonga to develop best practices. The girls she meets see her leading by example—dignified, ambitious, and fearless.
Time Magazine called her "Africa's premier diva." The BBC included her in its list of the continent's 50 most iconic figures. The Guardian listed her as one of their Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World. Forbes ranked her first among the Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa. She was also the first African woman appointed as an international Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
With support from the creative industry and social impact sector, Batonga tackles pressing issues facing adolescent girls on the African continent. The organization breaks down the norms and barriers holding them back and helps them transform their potential into power to lead healthy, independent, safe, and fulfilling lives.
Congratulations to Angélique Kidjo. Keep shining, Black child.