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Fela Kuti to receive Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award

The Recording Academy recognizes Fela Kuti's enduring cultural and political impact on Afrobeat nearly 30 years after his death, addressing past under-recognition of African artists.

  • The Recording Academy will posthumously honour Fela Anikulapo Kuti with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday, making him the first African recipient.
  • The Recording Academy's move reflects growing global recognition of African music after introducing the Best African Performance category in 2024 and aims to acknowledge Fela Anikulapo Kuti's Afrobeat legacy.
  • A look at his career shows Fela Anikulapo Kuti released more than 50 albums and led Africa 70 and Egypt 80, commanding over 20 musicians at the Afrika Shrine, while enduring attacks on Kalakuta Republic that fatally injured his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
  • Members of Fela's family and colleagues will attend the ceremony to receive the award, while Seun Kuti and Rikki Stein called it a 'double victory' and 'better late than never'; this year also honours Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, and Paul Simon.
  • Millions continue to listen to his music, and Fela's influence is audible in Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Sir Idris Elba, with artist Lemi Ghariokwu calling the honour 'This is immortality' and welcoming the award.
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Music In Africa broke the news in on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
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