The Afrobeat pioneer and activist will become the first African artist to earn the honor, a landmark recognition nearly 30 years after his death.
Iconic Nigerian musician and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti will be posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic moment as the first African artist to receive the distinction.
The Recording Academy’s tribute, announced ahead of the upcoming Grammy Awards, celebrates Fela’s revolutionary impact on global music and culture as the undisputed founder of Afrobeat.
For his family and collaborators, the recognition brings profound emotion and a sense of justice. “Fela has lived in the hearts of the people for a very long time. Now the Grammys have recognized that, and it feels like a double victory,” said his son, Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti. “It brings balance to the Fela story.”
Fela’s former manager, Rikki Stein, welcomed the award as long overdue. “Africa hasn’t historically ranked high in their interests, but I think that is changing now,” Stein noted.
The honor arrives amid surging global popularity of African music—a movement deeply rooted in Fela’s pioneering sound. This shift was further acknowledged last year when the Grammys introduced a new category for Best African Music Performance.
Beyond his musical innovation, Fela was revered as a fearless critic of corruption, dictatorship, and social injustice in Nigeria. His songs became anthems of resistance, a stance that drew severe retaliation. In 1977, after releasing the protest track “Zombie,” soldiers raided his Lagos commune, the Kalakuta Republic. The assault led to the death of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who died from injuries sustained in the attack.
In response, Fela carried her coffin to government offices and released the searing track “Coffin for Head of State,” transforming personal tragedy into a powerful political statement.
Family members and close associates are expected to accept the Grammy award on his behalf, commemorating a legacy that blended artistry with unwavering activism. Nearly three decades after his passing, the Lifetime Achievement Award reaffirms Fela Kuti’s enduring voice—for justice, African identity, and musical revolution.
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