Afrobeat pioneer and global cultural icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti is set to receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, nearly three decades after his passing. The honour makes Fela Kuti the first African artist to be bestowed with the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic milestone for African music on the global stage.
The award will be presented at a special ceremony in Los Angeles today, ahead of the main Grammy Awards event scheduled for Sunday. With this recognition, Fela Kuti joins an elite group of world-renowned artists, including Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, and Chaka Khan, whose contributions have left an indelible mark on global music history.
Fela Kuti, often referred to as the “Black President,” is celebrated not only for creating Afrobeat — a revolutionary fusion of traditional African rhythms, jazz, funk, and highlife — but also for using his music as a powerful tool for political activism. His songs boldly confronted military rule, corruption, imperialism, and social injustice, while promoting Pan-Africanism, African-rooted socialist ideals, and cultural self-determination.
Despite his passing in 1997, Fela’s influence continues to resonate across generations. His music remains a source of inspiration for artists, activists, and thinkers worldwide, shaping conversations around freedom, resistance, and African identity. Contemporary global musicians frequently cite him as a foundational influence, underscoring the timeless relevance of his work.
The Grammy recognition is widely seen as a long-overdue acknowledgment of Fela Kuti’s immense contribution to world music and social consciousness. It also represents a broader moment of recognition for African creativity and intellectual thought within the global cultural landscape.
As the world celebrates this honour, Fela Kuti’s legacy stands firm — a reminder that music can be both art and resistance, and that Africa’s voice continues to shape the rhythm of the world.
