The Recording Academy has announced that late Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti will be posthumously honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, making him the first African artist to receive the prestigious recognition. The award will be presented nearly 30 years after his passing, underscoring his enduring global influence, according to a BBC report.
Fela’s recognition comes at a time when African music continues to gain unprecedented international attention, highlighted by the global rise of Afrobeats and the introduction of the Grammy category for Best African Performance in 2024.
Speaking on the honour, his son and fellow Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, described the award as a long-overdue acknowledgment of his father’s impact, noting that Fela’s legacy has always lived in the hearts of the people.
Former manager and close associate, Rikki Stein, also welcomed the development, remarking that African contributions to global music have often been overlooked by major award institutions.
Representatives of Fela’s family and close associates are expected to attend the ceremony to accept the award and celebrate a legacy defined not only by groundbreaking music but also by fearless political expression.
Fela was renowned for using his music as a platform to challenge corruption, authoritarianism and social inequality in Nigeria, a stance that frequently brought him into conflict with military regimes.
His activism reached a tragic turning point in 1977 after the release of Zombie, when soldiers attacked and destroyed his Kalakuta Republic residence. The assault led to fatal injuries suffered by his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
In the aftermath, Fela channelled his grief into resistance, staging bold public protests and releasing Coffin for Head of State, cementing his reputation as an artist who transformed personal pain into a powerful political voice.
