Legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has been named the recipient of a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nearly three decades after his death, becoming the first African musician to receive the honour.
Widely celebrated as the creator of Afrobeat, Fela’s recognition comes at a time of increasing global appreciation for African music, following the worldwide rise of Afrobeats and the introduction of the Grammys’ Best African Performance category in 2024.
Reacting to the development, his son and fellow Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, described the award as a long-overdue validation of his father’s influence.
“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory. It’s bringing balance to a Fela story,” he said.
Fela’s longtime friend and former manager, Rikki Stein, also welcomed the recognition, describing it as “better late than never,” while noting that African music had long been sidelined in major global award platforms.
Family members, friends and associates of the late musician are expected to attend the Grammy Awards ceremony to receive the honour on his behalf, celebrating a legacy that blended music with political resistance and cultural identity.
Beyond his musical achievements, Fela was a relentless critic of corruption, social injustice and military dictatorship in Nigeria, often clashing with successive military regimes through his outspoken lyrics and activism.
His confrontation with the authorities peaked in 1977 following the release of Zombie, when soldiers raided and razed his Lagos commune, the Kalakuta Republic. The attack resulted in the death of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, after she sustained injuries during the assault.
Rather than retreating, Fela turned his grief into protest, famously carrying his mother’s coffin to government offices and releasing Coffin for Head of State, further cementing his status as a fearless voice against oppression.
Elijah Adeyemi
