Grammy Honours Fela with Lifetime Achievement Award 29 Years After His Death

Twenty-nine years after his passing, Afrobeat pioneer Olufela Oludotun Ransome Kuti, popularly known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, is being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy, organisers of the prestigious Grammy Awards.

The award will be presented today at the 68th Grammy Awards ceremony taking place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, United States. Fela’s children — Yeni, Femi and Kunle Kuti — will receive the honour on behalf of the family and the global Afrobeat community.

The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 1962, recognises performers who made outstanding creative contributions to the recording industry during their lifetimes. The first recipient was Bing Crosby in 1963.

The Recording Academy credits Fela with shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeat and influencing international stars such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and Thom Yorke. His legacy continues through institutions like the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine, as well as the enduring impact of his music, which includes more than 200 recorded songs.

In 2025, Fela’s iconic 1976 album Zombie was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, with the honour accepted by his sons Femi and Seun Kuti. Although Fela never received a Grammy nomination while alive, the posthumous recognition underscores his lasting contribution to world music.

The Kuti family has also earned multiple Grammy nominations. Femi Kuti has received six nominations, while Seun Kuti and Made Kuti have each been nominated once, bringing the family’s total nominations to eight.

Born on October 15, 1938, and passing on August 2, 1997, Fela was not only a musician but also a fearless activist who challenged military rule, corruption and social injustice in Nigeria. His politically charged lyrics and bold criticism often led to harassment, raids and imprisonment under successive military regimes.

Fela created Afrobeat by blending highlife, jazz, funk and Yoruba traditional music with extended grooves, powerful horn arrangements and revolutionary messages. The genre became the foundation for today’s Afrobeats movement and continues to inspire generations of African and global artistes.

His children have kept his legacy alive through projects such as Felabration, the annual festival celebrating his life; the New Afrika Shrine, which remains a cultural hub for Afrobeat performances and debates; and the Kalakuta Museum, which preserves his history for new audiences.

Yeni, Femi and Kunle Kuti have also been formally recognised by the courts as administrators of Fela’s estate, ensuring that the use of his name, image and intellectual property aligns with his values and long-term vision.

With this Lifetime Achievement Award, the Grammys have cemented Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s place as one of Africa’s greatest cultural icons whose influence continues to resonate across the world.