Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been named the first African artist to receive a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nearly three decades after his death in 1997.
The Recording Academy announced that the iconic musician will be honoured at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking a historic moment for African music and a symbolic recognition of Fela’s lasting influence on global sound and sociopolitical expression.
The award will be formally presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony scheduled for Saturday, January 31, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, a day ahead of the main Grammy Awards ceremony.
The announcement has triggered widespread celebration across Nigeria and beyond, with many describing the recognition as long overdue for a cultural figure whose music reshaped global perceptions of African artistry and resistance.
In its citation, the Recording Academy highlighted the enduring relevance of Fela’s work, noting that his music continues to inspire contemporary artists and remains a reference point in global music scholarship. His influence has been explored through multiple platforms, including award-winning stage productions, documentaries, and podcasts, while his sound has shaped generations of musicians across continents.
Fela’s music was deeply rooted in political consciousness, often confronting military rule, corruption, and social injustice in Nigeria. His activism brought him into repeated conflict with successive military governments, resulting in arrests, harassment, and violent raids on his communal residence, the Kalakuta Republic.
Reacting to the honour, Fela’s son, Seun Kuti, described the award as a victory for Afrobeat and politically conscious music. He noted that while he would not be present at the ceremony due to travel restrictions, the family remains deeply proud of the recognition.
Seun also used the moment to call for unity within the music industry, stressing that artistic greatness should not be reduced to rivalry or comparison, but celebrated as a collective cultural achievement.
The award will be received on behalf of the family by Fela’s children, including Yeni, Femi, and Kunle Kuti, who have continued to preserve and expand his legacy through music, performance, and cultural institutions linked to the New Afrika Shrine.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who died at the age of 58, is credited with creating Afrobeat, a genre that fused jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional African rhythms into a powerful vehicle for social commentary. His work laid the foundation for the modern Afrobeats movement that now dominates international charts.
With this honour, Fela joins a distinguished list of 2026 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, including Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon.
The recognition further strengthens his enduring legacy, following the 2025 induction of his 1976 album Zombie into the Grammy Hall of Fame. As Grammy weekend approaches, a special live tribute performance celebrating Fela’s music and ideals is also scheduled to hold in Los Angeles.
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