Legendary Nigerian musician and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti is set to receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, nearly 30 years after his death.
Widely regarded as the king of Afrobeat by generations of fans, Fela will become the first African artist to be honoured with the prestigious award, which recognises performers who have made outstanding artistic contributions to music.
Reacting to the announcement, his son and fellow musician, Seun Kuti, described the recognition as long overdue. He said the honour brings balance to his father’s legacy, noting that Fela’s influence has lived on in the hearts of people worldwide long before the global music industry formally acknowledged it.
Longtime friend and former manager of the late musician, Rikki Stein, also welcomed the recognition, describing it as “better late than never,” and noting that global interest in African music has significantly increased in recent years.
The award comes amid the continued global rise of Afrobeats, a genre heavily inspired by Fela’s revolutionary sound. In 2024, the Grammys introduced the Best African Performance category, further reflecting the genre’s growing influence. This year, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy is also nominated in the Best Global Music Album category.
Other recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award this year include Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, and Paul Simon.
Members of Fela Kuti’s family, along with friends and collaborators, are expected to attend the Grammy Awards ceremony to receive the honour on his behalf.
Seun Kuti described the moment as significant not only for his father’s legacy, but for global music culture as a whole, emphasising Fela’s enduring impact beyond Africa.
