Global Vindication: Grammys Crown Fela Kuti With Lifetime Honour
Legendary Afrobeat trailblazer Fela Anikulapo Kuti has been named a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African musician to receive the honour, nearly 30 years after his death.
The award, which will be presented at the upcoming Grammy ceremony, marks a major moment for African music on the global stage. It comes at a time when African sounds are enjoying wider international recognition, following the global rise of Afrobeats and the Recording Academy’s introduction of the Best African Performance category in 2024.
Fela is widely credited with creating Afrobeat, a genre that blended jazz, funk and traditional African rhythms, while delivering hard-hitting political commentary. His influence continues to shape African and global music decades after his passing.
Reacting to the announcement, his son, Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti, described the recognition as long overdue. He said the award reflects the lasting connection between Fela and the people, noting that global acknowledgement helps to rebalance the narrative around his father’s life and work.
Fela’s former manager and close associate, Rikki Stein, also welcomed the decision, saying the honour was overdue and highlighting how African musicians were for decades overlooked in major international award platforms.
Family members, friends and long-time collaborators of the late musician are expected to attend the Grammy Awards to accept the honour on his behalf, celebrating a legacy that went far beyond music.
Beyond his artistic impact, Fela was known for his fierce opposition to corruption, social injustice and military dictatorship in Nigeria. His outspoken activism frequently brought him into conflict with military authorities.
That confrontation peaked in 1977 after the release of his song Zombie, when soldiers attacked and razed his Lagos commune, the Kalakuta Republic. During the raid, his mother, renowned activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, sustained injuries that later led to her death.
Instead of retreating, Fela intensified his protest, publicly carrying his mother’s coffin to government offices and releasing the album Coffin for Head of State, turning personal tragedy into a powerful act of political defiance.
The Grammy recognition now places Fela Kuti firmly among the world’s most influential music icons, reaffirming his enduring impact as both an artist and a symbol of resistance.