"We Africans don't know what we have given the world. Without us, no music would be possible on this planet," the 66-year-old said during Tuesday's ceremony in Los Angeles.
Born in Benin, West Africa, Kidjo has a 40-year international career behind her, with 18 albums released and having been named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.
Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy praised Kidjo as a “rare artist.”
"Your example has lifted our global music community, and your work continues to remind us that music is more than entertainment; it is togetherness," he said.
Angélique Kidjo was awarded the 2023 Polar Prize.
