The Recording Academy has named legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti as the first African artiste to receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place tomorrow at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, drawing renewed global attention to the enduring legacy of the Afrobeat pioneer.
Born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria, Fela revolutionised African music by creating Afrobeat, a genre that fused jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional Yoruba rhythms.
Over the course of his prolific career, he released more than 50 albums and became renowned not only for his electrifying performances but also for his fearless criticism of corruption, military rule, and social injustice. Much of his activism and music centred around the famous Afrika Shrine, which became a cultural and political hub.
READ ALSO:Popular Nollywood Actor Arrested Over Involvement In Coup Plot to Overthrow Tinubu
Members of Fela’s family welcomed the recognition with pride and emotion.
His son, Seun Kuti, described the honour as a “double victory”, noting that his father had long occupied a special place in the hearts of fans around the world. Close friend and former manager Rikki Stein echoed the sentiment, calling the award “better late than never”.
However, Fela’s musical torch continues to burn brightly through his sons, Femi and Seun, who have carried forward his sound and message to new generations.
The Grammy recognition is widely seen as a historic moment for African music, cementing Fela Kuti’s status as one of the continent’s most influential and transformative cultural figures.