By Danjuma Amodu | January 30, 2026
Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is set to receive a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nearly three decades after his death.
The Recording Academy will honour Fela at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on January 31 in Los Angeles, recognising his groundbreaking contributions to music and fearless activism.
Fela’s music fused West African highlife, jazz, funk, and traditional rhythms, creating Afrobeat, a genre inspiring artists like Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke. His lyrics addressed social injustice, corruption, and military dictatorship, making him a powerful voice for the oppressed.
Fela’s children, Yeni, Femi, and Kunle Kuti, will formally receive the award, preserving his legacy through the New Afrika Shrine. Seun Kuti described the honour as a victory for Afrobeat and politically conscious music, but said he could not attend due to travel restrictions.
“We are all proud as a family. It’s a good day for African music, Afrobeat culture, and resistance music,” Seun said.
The Recording Academy praised Fela’s influence, citing the podcast series Fela Kuti: Fear No Man and the Tony Award-winning Broadway run of Fela! The Musical.
Fela joins notable recipients, including Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, and Paul Simon.
A special live band tribute is scheduled in Los Angeles to celebrate his legacy.
