The Recording Academy has announced that legendary Nigerian musician and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be posthumously honoured with a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

The recognition will be presented during the Special Merit Awards ceremony, which forms part of Grammy Week and is scheduled to take place on February 1, 2026, ahead of the main Grammy Awards event.

In a statement shared on its official platforms, the Recording Academy described Fela Kuti as the architect of Afrobeat, crediting him with creating a genre that fused jazz, funk, highlife, salsa and traditional Nigerian rhythms. The Academy highlighted his lasting impact on global music and his role as both a cultural innovator and political voice.

Fela, who rose to prominence in the 1960s, used his music as a platform to challenge authoritarianism and social injustice, becoming one of Africa’s most influential musical figures. His work continues to shape contemporary Afrobeats and has influenced a wide range of international artists, including Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and Thom Yorke.

The Academy also noted that Fela’s legacy extends beyond music through institutions such as the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine, as well as through his family, many of whom remain active in music and cultural advocacy.

With this honour, Fela Kuti joins a distinguished list of past Special Merit Award recipients that includes Whitney Houston, Cher, Paul Simon, Chaka Khan, Carlos Santana, Eddie Palmieri and Bernie Taupin, among others.

Meanwhile, several Nigerian artists — including Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Wizkid and Omah Lay — are also expected to feature prominently in the 2026 Grammy Awards season, reflecting the growing global recognition of African music.

Source: Graphic Online