Fela Kuti makes history as first African artist to receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

In a landmark moment for global music, the pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was posthumously honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards season. The recognition, presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, makes Fela the first African artist to ever receive this prestigious honor.

The Recording Academy bestowed the award upon Fela alongside an elite group of international music icons, including Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, and Paul Simon. Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, described the honorees as an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations and forms the very foundation of modern music.

A legacy accepted by the Kuti dynasty
The ceremony was a significant family affair, with Femi Kuti, Yeni Kuti, Shalewa Kuti, and Kunle Kuti present to accept the award on behalf of their father. The pride of the Kuti dynasty was palpable as they took the stage to acknowledge the enduring global impact of the “Abami Eda.”

During her acceptance speech, Yeni Kuti expressed deep gratitude to the Academy and the family’s global supporters.

“I want to thank the Grammys for this wonderful award. I’m sure my father is smiling down on us,” she said. “I want to acknowledge my siblings who couldn’t be here tonight, Motunrayo and Seun, and my nephew who is carrying Afrobeat to another level, Made.”

Femi Kuti followed with a poignant tribute to his father’s mission and the community that has sustained the Afrobeat movement for decades.

“I would like to thank all the people carrying Afrobeat that are in this place tonight—DJs, the press, our label Partisan Records, our lawyers, and fans all over the world,” Femi noted. “Thank you for bringing our father here. It’s so important for Africa. It’s so important for world peace and struggle.”

Cementing a global impact
This historic recognition serves as a definitive validation of Fela’s role as a foundational figure in contemporary music. His fearless fusion of jazz, funk, and traditional Nigerian rhythms created a genre that continues to inspire millions. Nearly 30 years after his passing, Fela’s message of social justice and political resistance remains as relevant as ever, proving that his music is indeed “the weapon of the future.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award follows the 2025 induction of Fela’s seminal 1977 album Zombie into the Grammy Hall of Fame, further solidifying his status as a permanent fixture in the global musical canon.