Fela Kuti is awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously

Fela Kuti became the first African to receive the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, honoured posthumously alongside Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana and Whitney Houston.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been posthumously awarded the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys Special Merit Awards. The honour was announced alongside awards for Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana and Whitney Houston. The recognition highlights Fela’s musical contributions and his role as the founder of Afrobeat, a genre distinct from contemporary Afrobeats. Nigerian critics and creative figures responded by noting the award reflects his long-standing influence. Key details: - He is reported as the first African to receive the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. - The award was presented posthumously and listed alongside Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana and Whitney Houston. - Fela is described as the founder of Afrobeat, combining horns, jazz, funk and Yoruba rhythms; this is distinct from Afrobeats. - He was also an activist who criticised Nigeria’s military rulers, was jailed multiple times, and his Kalakuta Republic was attacked in 1977, an incident that led to his mother’s death from injuries sustained in the raid. - Fela died in 1997 from complications of AIDS. - The Recording Academy introduced a Best African music performance category in 2024 and several African artists have been recognised by the academy since 2020. Summary: The award underscores Fela Kuti’s enduring musical influence and comes amid growing visibility for African music at the Recording Academy. It follows recent steps such as the 2024 Best African music performance category and past awards for African artists. Undetermined at this time.