Fela makes history with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 28 years after death

Nearly three decades after his death, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti continues to leave an indelible mark on global music, earning historic recognition as the first African artist to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The honour, presented by the Recording Academy at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 31, 2026, celebrates Fela’s enduring influence as a composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and activist. His children — Yeni, Femi and Kunle — accepted the posthumous award on his behalf.

With the recognition, Fela joins an elite list of music legends such as The Beatles, Earth, Wind and Fire, Run-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Donny Hathaway and Isaac Hayes.

Established in 1962, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honours performers whose artistic contributions have had lasting significance in the recording industry. The Recording Academy credited Fela with shaping modern Afrobeats, inspiring generations of global stars, including Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and Thom Yorke, and creating a cultural legacy that lives on through his family, the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine.

Widely regarded as the creator of Afrobeat, Fela composed, recorded and performed more than 200 songs, blending traditional Nigerian rhythms with highlife, jazz, funk and soul to produce a sound that resonated worldwide.

In 2025, his iconic 1976 album Zombie was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its historical and artistic significance. His sons, Femi and Seun Kuti, received the honour on his behalf, noting that their father’s music continues to unite audiences across cultures.

The Kuti family has also sustained the musical legacy, earning eight Grammy nominations collectively — six for Femi, one for Seun and one for Made Kuti.

Born on October 15, 1938, in Abeokuta, Nigeria, Fela was more than an entertainer. After studying music in London, he built Afrobeat into a powerful tool for social commentary, using his art to challenge injustice, corruption and inequality.

Through his music, activism and cultural institutions like the Kalakuta Republic and Afrika Shrine, Fela established himself as a symbol of resistance and Pan-African pride — a legacy that continues to shape music and social consciousness around the world.