Nearly 30 years after his passing, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti is set to receive one of the music world’s highest accolades: a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. According to the BBC, Fela will be the first African musician to receive the honor, cementing his legacy as a global cultural and musical icon.
The award recognises Fela’s monumental influence on music, culture, and political expression worldwide. As the founder of Afrobeat, his revolutionary rhythms and socially conscious lyrics inspired generations of artists both in Africa and across the globe.
Commenting on the recognition, Fela’s son and fellow Afrobeat artiste Seun Kuti described the moment as deeply emotional and significant.
“Fela has lived in the hearts of the people for a very long time. Now the Grammys have recognised that, and it feels like a double victory. It brings balance to the Fela story,” Seun Kuti said.
Fela’s former manager and longtime collaborator, Rikki Stein, also welcomed the announcement, noting that the recognition was long overdue.
“Africa hasn’t historically ranked high in their interests, but I think that is changing now,” Stein said.
The award coincides with a growing global interest in African music, particularly the rise of Afrobeats, a genre that traces its roots directly to Fela’s pioneering work. The Grammys’ introduction of the Best African Performance category in 2024 further underscores this trend.
Family, friends, and associates of the late musician are expected to attend the Grammy ceremony to accept the award on his behalf, celebrating a legacy that fused music with political activism and cultural assertion.
Fela was not only a musical innovator but also a fearless critic of corruption and military dictatorship in Nigeria. His defiance culminated in 1977 after the release of the protest anthem Zombie, when soldiers raided his Lagos commune, the Kalakuta Republic, resulting in the death of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
Despite the personal tragedy, Fela turned grief into political art, famously taking his mother’s coffin to government offices and releasing the song Coffin for Head of State.
Almost three decades later, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award cements Fela Kuti’s enduring status as a musical genius and global voice for justice, resistance, and African identity. His work continues to resonate, inspiring artists and audiences worldwide.
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