By Bababunmi Agbebi
Edited by Ezennia Uche
In a landmark moment for both African music and global cultural recognition, Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti has become the first African artist to be honoured with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The posthumous accolade was presented at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards Special Merit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on January 31, 2026 nearly three decades after his death in 1997.
The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates artists who have made outstanding contributions to the recording industry. Since its inception in 1963, the distinction has been bestowed upon music legends such as Whitney Houston, Cher, Chaka Khan, Carlos Santana and Paul Simon now including Fela Kuti, whose recognition marks a significant milestone for African music on the global stage.
Fela’s children, including Femi, Yeni, Kunle and Shalewa accepted the award on his behalf, underscoring the profound and enduring legacy of their father.
Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in 1938, Fela Kuti was a trailblazing musician and cultural visionary. He invented Afrobeat, a dynamic fusion of West African rhythms, jazz, funk and highlife, characterized by layered horn sections, hypnotic grooves, and politically conscious lyrics. With a discography spanning more than 50 albums, Fela’s music challenged colonial legacies, critiqued corruption and military rule, and gave voice to the struggles of ordinary Africans.
Fela’s artistry was inseparable from his activism. Throughout his life, he used music as a vehicle for social protest denouncing injustice and authoritarianism. His Kalakuta Republic commune became a symbolic space of resistance in Lagos, and moments such as the military raid on Kalakuta in 1977, which led to the death of his mother, cemented his reputation as both artist and agitator.
Despite facing frequent harassment, arrests and violent state repression, Fela’s message and music resonated far beyond Nigeria. He inspired generations of African musicians and directly influenced contemporary genres such as Afrobeats whose global success today can be traced back to his groundbreaking work.
Fela’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award arrives amid growing global interest in African music. The Recording Academy introduced the Best African Performance category in 2024, and artists from across the continent have since gained international recognition. This award not only honours Fela’s legacy but also highlights the vibrant cultural contributions of African artists to the world music landscape.
As the first African artist to receive this prestigious accolade, Fela Kuti’s recognition at the Grammys represents a pivotal moment in music history, affirming the power of his art, his influence across generations, and the enduring global impact of African music.
