Nearly 30 years after his passing, Nigerian music icon Fela Kuti is set to be honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic first for an African artist. The award comes two years after the Grammys introduced the Best African Performance category. Fela, the Afrobeat pioneer who died in 1997 at 58, will join a prestigious list of artists recognised since the award’s inception in 1963.
Kuti’s family, friends, and collaborators will attend the ceremony to accept the award on his behalf. His son, musician Seun Kuti, said the recognition underscores the enduring influence of his father’s music. “Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory,” Seun Kuti told the BBC.
Rikki Stein, Kuti’s longtime manager, called the honour long overdue. “Africa hasn’t in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that’s changing quite a bit of late,” Stein told the BBC, adding that the recognition was “better late than never.” Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì, born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, released over 50 albums, blending jazz and funk with traditional Yoruba music and politically charged lyrics. He became a leading cultural figure in modern African history, widely celebrated for using music as a vehicle for political protest and social commentary.
The 68th Grammy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, 31 January 2026, with comedian Trevor Noah hosting for the sixth consecutive year. Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with nine, including record, song, and album of the year, marking the third time he has been nominated in all three major categories simultaneously.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/
