Los Angeles / Lagos — Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti is set to receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards, nearly three decades after his death, marking a historic first for an African musician, according to the BBC.
Widely celebrated as the architect of Afrobeat, Fela’s recognition comes at a time of growing global acceptance of African music, following the worldwide rise of Afrobeats and the Grammys’ introduction of the Best African Performance category in 2024.
Reacting to the honour, Fela’s son and fellow Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, described the award as long overdue.
“Fela has lived in the hearts of the people for such a long time,” he said. “Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory. It brings balance to the Fela story.”
Fela’s former manager and long-time friend, Rikki Stein, also welcomed the development, calling it a case of “better late than never,” while noting that African music had historically been sidelined in major global award platforms.
Family members, close friends and collaborators are expected to attend the Grammy ceremony to receive the award on Fela’s behalf, celebrating a legacy that blended music with political resistance and cultural identity.
Beyond his musical genius, Fela was a fearless critic of corruption, social injustice and military dictatorship in Nigeria, frequently clashing with successive regimes. His activism peaked in 1977 following the release of Zombie, when soldiers raided and burned his Lagos commune, the Kalakuta Republic. The attack led to the death of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, after she sustained severe injuries.
Rather than retreat, Fela transformed tragedy into protest—famously carrying his mother’s coffin to government offices and releasing Coffin for Head of State, cementing his role not just as a musician, but as a symbol of resistance.
The Grammy honour now stands as global recognition of a man whose music and message continue to resonate far beyond Africa.
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