Fela Kuti to Receive Posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

According to Tribune Online, Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti will be posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nearly three decades after his death in 1997.

The award, which has been presented by the Recording Academy since 1963, recognizes artists who have made lasting contributions to the recording industry. Fela Kuti becomes the first African musician to receive the distinction, marking a historic moment for African music on the global stage.

Fela, widely regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat, blended West African rhythms with jazz, funk and politically charged lyrics to create a genre that reshaped modern African music. Over a career spanning roughly 30 years, he released more than 50 albums and used his work to openly challenge corruption, authoritarianism and social injustice in Nigeria.

His son, musician Seun Kuti, welcomed the recognition, describing it as an acknowledgment of his father’s enduring influence. He said the honour reflects how deeply Fela’s music and message have resonated with people worldwide over time.

Longtime friend and former manager Rikki Stein also described the award as overdue, noting that global institutions have historically overlooked African contributions to popular music. He said the recognition signals a shift in how African cultural influence is being acknowledged internationally.

The announcement comes amid growing global attention on African music. In recent years, the Grammys have expanded their categories to reflect the rise of African and global sounds, including the introduction of the Best African Performance category in 2024.

Fela Kuti, born Olufela Olusegun Oludoton Ransome-Kuti, was also known for his activism beyond music. His criticism of Nigeria’s military governments led to repeated arrests and violent reprisals, including the 1977 raid on his Kalakuta Republic compound, during which his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, sustained fatal injuries.

Family members, friends and collaborators are expected to receive the Grammy award on his behalf at the ceremony.

Source: Tribune Online