Fela Kuti: First African Recipient of Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award
Long crowned by his legion of fans as the king of Afrobeat, the late Fela Kuti is finally being recognised by the global music industry.
The Nigerian star will posthumously receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys - almost three decades after his death at the age of 58.
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, his musician son Seun Kuti tells the BBC.
It's bringing balance to a Fela story, he adds.
Rikki Stein, a long-time friend and manager of the late musician, says the recognition by the Grammys is better late than never. He notes that Africa hasn't in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that's changing quite a bit of late.
Following the global success of Afrobeats, a genre inspired by Fela's sound, the Grammys introduced the category of Best African Performance in 2024.
This year, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy also has a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category.
However, Fela Kuti will be the first African to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, albeit posthumously. The award was first presented in 1963 to American singer and actor Bing Crosby.
Other musicians who will receive the award this year include Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, the American singer known as the Queen of Funk, and Paul Simon.
Fela Kuti's family, as well friends and colleagues, will be attending the Grammys to receive his award.
The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it's my father, Seun Kuti tells the BBC.
Stein says it is important to recognise Fela as a man who championed the cause of people who had drawn life's short straw, adding that he castigated any form of social injustice, corruption [and] mismanagement in government.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti was not simply a musician but also a cultural theorist and political agitator. He pioneered the Afrobeat genre by blending West African rhythms, jazz, funk, highlife, extended improvisation, call-and-response vocals, and politically charged lyricism.
His music incurred the wrath of Nigeria's then-military regimes; in 1977, after the release of the album Zombie, his compound was raided. Rather than retreat, he responded through music, turning grief into protest.
Today, Fela Kuti's music resonates abundantly with millions around the world, his influence evident in modern artists such as Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, and Sir Idris Elba, who have all cited him as an inspiration.
Elba has curated an official vinyl box set dedicated to Fela, highlighting his unique sound and contributions. Fela Kuti performed at major international festivals, introducing audiences worldwide to a bold and politically charged representation of modern Africa.
His legacy endures, and the upcoming Grammy award is a testament to Fela Kuti's indelible impact on music and culture, as well as a celebration of African artistry in the global arena.
