Afrobeat pioneer and Nigerian music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has received a major global honour nearly three decades after his death.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has reported that the Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, will posthumously confer a Lifetime Achievement Award on Fela. The honour makes him the first African to receive the prestigious award.
According to the BBC, the award recognises Fela’s enduring influence on global music, culture and political expression.
Reacting to the recognition, Fela’s son and fellow Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, described the award as a significant moment for his father’s legacy.
“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory. It’s bringing balance to a Fela story,” he said.
A former manager and long-time associate of the late singer, Rikki Stein, said the honour was long overdue, noting a gradual shift in how African music is recognised globally.
“Africa hasn’t in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that’s changing quite a bit of late,” Stein said.
The BBC noted that Fela’s recognition comes at a time of growing global attention on African music, largely driven by the international success of Afrobeats, a genre deeply rooted in Fela’s original Afrobeat sound.
In 2024, the Grammy Awards introduced the Best African Performance category, reflecting this rising global interest. Nigerian singer Burna Boy also received a nomination this year in the Best Global Music Album category.
Fela’s Lifetime Achievement Award places him among some of the most respected names in global music history. Past recipients include Bing Crosby, while this year’s honourees also feature Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan and Paul Simon.
Members of Fela’s family, friends and long-time associates are expected to attend the Grammy ceremony to receive the award on his behalf.
Speaking further on the significance of the moment, Seun Kuti said, “The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it’s my father.”
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, Fela developed the genre by blending West African rhythms with jazz, funk and highlife, often delivering long, improvised songs with strong political messages.
Fela released more than 50 albums before his death in 1997 and was widely known for his open criticism of Nigerian military governments, frequently clashing with authorities through his music and activism.
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