Legacy Celebrated: Fela Kuti Receives Posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Mon Feb 02 2026 17:46:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Fela Kuti, the legendary Afrobeat musician, is posthumously honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a significant recognition of his influence and legacy in the global music scene nearly three decades after his passing.

Fela Kuti will posthumously receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African musician to be honored with this title. While his son Seun Kuti celebrates the recognition, many view it as a vital acknowledgment of an artist whose works intertwined music with social justice and powerful storytelling.

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.

Rikki Stein, a long-time friend and manager of the late musician, states that recognition by the Grammys is better late than never and signifies a growing appreciation for African contributions to music.

Fela Kuti will be the first African to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, first presented in 1963 to American singer Bing Crosby, continues to celebrate artists who have made significant impacts on music.

Other musicians receiving awards this year include Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, and Paul Simon. Fela's influence is deeply felt in today's music, with echoes of his work resonating through modern artists like Burna Boy and Kendrick Lamar. Fela Kuti's legacy remains a testament to his powerful engagement with social issues through music.