Fela Makes History As First African Artiste To Get Grammy Lifetime Posthumous Award

Nearly three decades after his death, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti is set to receive global recognition from the music industry as the Recording Academy confers on him a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards.

Widely revered by fans as the King of Afrobeat, the Nigerian icon died in 1997 at the age of 58. His son, musician Seun Kuti, welcomed the honour, describing it as long overdue.

“Fela has lived in the hearts of the people for so long. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it. It’s a double victory,” Seun told the BBC, adding that the recognition helps “bring balance to the Fela story.”

Long-time friend and former manager of the late musician, Rikki Stein, echoed the sentiment, saying the award was “better late than never.”

“For a long time, Africa was not high on their radar. That’s clearly changing,” Stein said.

The recognition comes amid growing global interest in African music, driven largely by the worldwide success of Afrobeats — a modern genre inspired by Fela’s groundbreaking sound. In 2024, the Grammys introduced the Best African Music Performance category, while Nigerian superstar Burna Boy is nominated this year for Best Global Music Album.

Fela Kuti will become the first African recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which was first instituted in 1963.

Other honourees this year include Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan and Paul Simon.

Members of Fela’s family, friends and collaborators are expected to attend the ceremony to receive the award on his behalf.

Beyond music, Fela Kuti was a fierce social critic, political activist and cultural revolutionary. Stein said it was impossible to separate his artistry from his advocacy.

“He stood up for people who drew life’s short straw. He challenged injustice, corruption and bad governance relentlessly,” he said.

Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, he later dropped the surname “Ransome” because of its colonial origins. Alongside drummer Tony Allen, Fela pioneered Afrobeat by fusing West African rhythms with jazz, funk, highlife and politically charged lyricism.

Over a career spanning nearly 30 years, he released more than 50 albums and used music as a tool of resistance, often clashing with Nigeria’s military governments.

His criticism of the state led to repeated arrests, harassment and violent raids, most notably the 1977 attack on his Kalakuta Republic commune following the release of his album ‘Zombie’. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, later died from injuries sustained during the assault.

Rather than retreat, Fela transformed grief into protest, releasing Coffin for Head of State and continuing his defiance through music.

His influence stretched far beyond Nigeria. Drawing inspiration from Ghanaian highlife and pan-African ideology, Fela crafted a sound that was distinctly African yet globally resonant.

His legendary performances at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos blurred the line between concert, political rally and spiritual gathering.

Today, his legacy endures in the work of artists across generations, including Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar and Idris Elba.

For Seun Kuti, who was 14 when his father died, the award affirms a lifelong mission.

“He wasn’t interested in awards,” Seun said. “He was interested in liberation — freeing the mind.”

With the Grammy honour, Fela Kuti’s place not only in African history but in global music canon is now firmly sealed.