Decades after his voice was silenced, the legacy of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has thundered onto one of music’s most prestigious stages. In a landmark moment for African music and global cultural history, the late Nigerian icon has been honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African musician to receive the distinction from the Recording Academy.
The award was presented posthumously at the 2026 Special Merit Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 31, held on the eve of the main Grammy Awards ceremony. Representing the Kuti family, Fela’s children Yeni, Kunle, Shalewa and Femi Kuti were present to receive the honour on his behalf, drawing an emotional response from the audience.
Speaking during the presentation, Yeni Kuti expressed gratitude to the Recording Academy, saying she believed their father would be watching with pride.
“I’m sure my father is smiling down on us,” she said, while also acknowledging her siblings Motunrayo and Seun, who were absent from the ceremony. She further praised her nephew, Made Kuti, for continuing to push Afrobeat into new creative territories. “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,” she added.
Femi Kuti, himself a globally respected musician and torchbearer of the Afrobeat movement, described the recognition as far bigger than an individual accolade. In his remarks, he thanked those who have helped sustain and amplify Afrobeat across generations and continents.
“I would like to thank all the people carrying Afrobeat that are in this place tonight. DJs, the press, our label Partisan, our lawyers, fans all over the world. Thank you for bringing our father here,” Femi said. He emphasised the broader significance of the honour, calling it “so important for Africa” and linking Fela’s legacy to global struggles for justice and peace.
Fela Kuti, renowned for his fearless political commentary, genre-defining sound and uncompromising activism, shared the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award with other celebrated figures in world music, including Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher and Paul Simon.
The recognition not only cements Fela’s enduring influence on modern music but also marks a historic acknowledgment of Africa’s contribution to global culture, reaffirming that his message, music and resistance continue to resonate long after his passing.