Nearly 30 years after his death, legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been awarded one of global music’s highest recognitions, as the Recording Academy announced it will honour him with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
According to reports by the BBC, the prestigious award will be presented at the Grammy Awards, making Fela the first African artist to receive the Lifetime Achievement distinction.
The award recognises Fela’s lasting impact on global music, culture and political consciousness, solidifying his status as one of the most influential musical figures of the 20th century.
Reacting to the news, Fela’s son and renowned Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, described the honour as deeply emotional and symbolic.
“Fela has lived in the hearts of the people for a very long time. For the Grammys to finally acknowledge this is a double victory—it brings balance to the Fela story,” Seun said.
Fela’s former manager and long-time associate, Rikki Stein, noted that the recognition was long overdue, adding that Africa had historically been overlooked but that attitudes appear to be changing.
The BBC highlighted that the honour comes amid growing global attention on African music, driven largely by the international success of Afrobeats—a genre rooted in the foundations laid by Fela decades ago.
In 2024, the Grammys introduced the Best African Performance category, widely viewed as recognition of Africa’s rising influence in global music. This year, Nigerian star Burna Boy also secured a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category, further underscoring the continent’s growing presence.
Among Global Music Icons
Fela’s Lifetime Achievement Award places him alongside legendary figures such as Bing Crosby, with this year’s honourees also including Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan and Paul Simon.
Members of Fela’s family, friends and close associates are expected to attend the Grammy ceremony to accept the award on his behalf.
“The global human tapestry needs this—not just because he’s my father,” Seun Kuti added.
The BBC described Fela as far more than a musician, portraying him as a cultural philosopher, political activist and the creator of Afrobeat. Alongside drummer Tony Allen, Fela fused West African rhythms with jazz, funk and highlife, producing a genre defined by long improvisations and powerful political messages.
Before his death in 1997, Fela released over 50 albums and emerged as one of Africa’s boldest critics of authority. Through his music and activism, he consistently challenged Nigerian military regimes, turning Afrobeat into both an art form and a tool of resistance.
