The Recording Academy has announced the 10 honorees for its 2026 Special Merit Awards, with legendary Nigerian musician Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
In a statement on Friday, the Recording Academy described Fela Kuti as a pioneering force in global music:
“Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, activist, and the father of Afrobeat. In the 1960s, he created the genre by fusing funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and traditional Nigerian rhythms.”
The Academy added that his impact transcends borders and eras, noting that his work helped shape modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspired global stars including Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke.
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Fela Kuti will be formally honoured at the Special Merit Awards ceremony on January 31, 2026, where he will be celebrated with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Renowned for his groundbreaking sound and fearless activism, Fela’s influence continues to resonate across generations. His legacy endures through his vast musical catalogue, his family, and cultural landmarks such as the New Afrika Shrine and the Kalakuta Museum.