Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti has been awarded a major global honour nearly three decades after his death.
The BBC reported on Friday that the Recording Academy will posthumously present a Lifetime Achievement Award to the Nigerian music icon at the Grammy Awards, making him the first African to receive the honour.
According to the BBC, the award recognises Fela’s enduring influence on global music and culture.
Reacting to the announcement, his son and fellow Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, described the recognition as deeply meaningful. He said Fela had long lived in the hearts of the people and that the Grammy acknowledgement represented “a double victory” and a sense of balance in his father’s story.
Fela’s former manager and long-time associate, Rikki Stein, also welcomed the decision, calling it long overdue. He noted that Africa had not always been given much attention by global institutions but said that was beginning to change.
The BBC added that the honour comes amid growing international interest in African music, largely fuelled by the global success of Afrobeats, a genre rooted in Fela’s pioneering work.
In 2024, the Grammys introduced the Best African Performance category, while Nigerian singer Burna Boy received a nomination this year in the Best Global Music Album category.
Fela now joins a list of global music legends to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, including past honouree Bing Crosby. This year’s recipients also include Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, and Paul Simon.
Family members, friends, and associates of the late musician are expected to attend the ceremony to accept the award on his behalf.
The BBC described Fela as more than a musician, portraying him as a cultural thinker, political activist, and the creator of Afrobeat. Alongside drummer Tony Allen, he developed the genre by blending West African rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife, characterised by extended improvisation and politically charged lyrics.
Over a career that spanned until his death in 1997, Fela released more than 50 albums and became a fierce critic of authority, often clashing with Nigeria’s military governments through his music and activism.
