Fela Kuti Becomes First African Honoured with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has posthumously become the first African artist to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic milestone for African music on the global stage.

The honour was presented during the Special Merit Awards Ceremony held as part of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards season in Los Angeles.

The award was accepted on Fela’s behalf by his children Femi, Yeni, Shalewa, and Kunle Kuti, celebrating the enduring legacy of an artist whose music, activism, and ideology reshaped global sound and consciousness. The Recording Academy recognised Fela alongside music legends including Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. described the honorees as visionaries whose influence transcends generations, genres, and borders. Speaking at the ceremony, Yeni Kuti expressed gratitude to the Academy and supporters of the Kuti family, noting that Fela’s legacy continues to live on through his children and grandchildren. Femi Kuti paid tribute to the global Afrobeat community, emphasising the significance of the recognition for Africa, cultural resistance, and global unity.

This landmark honour cements Fela Kuti’s status as a foundational figure in modern music and affirms Afrobeat’s lasting impact on the world.