Nearly 30 years after he passed away, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the famous Nigerian musician and creator of Afrobeat, is about to get one of the biggest music honors in the world.The Recording Academy, which gives out the Grammy Awards, will give Fela a Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously at the next Grammy ceremony.
This makes him the first African musician to ever receive this honor, according to a BBC report.This award is for Fela’s big impact on music, culture, and how he used his art to express political ideas. He started Afrobeat, and his unique style and ideas have inspired many musicians in Africa and around the world. His son, Seun Kuti, who is also a musician, talked about the award. He said it was emotional and important.“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged that, and it feels like a big win. It brings balance to Fela’s story,” he said.
Fela’s old manager and friend, Rikki Stein, also praised the award, saying it was long overdue.“Heat Africa hasn’t always been a big focus for the Grammys, but I think that is changing now,” Stein said.
The BBC mentioned that this honor happens at a time when more people around the world are interested in African music, especially Afrobeats, which is rooted in Fela’s work. This growing interest was shown by the Grammys creating a new category called Best African Performance in 2024. Fela’s family, friends, and colleagues are expected to be at the Grammy ceremony to accept the award on his behalf, showing off a legacy that connected music with fighting for justice and showing African pride.
In life, Fela was known for being against corruption, military rule, and unfair treatment in Nigeria.He used his music to speak out against these issues, which often put him in conflict with military leaders.This defiance became very serious in 1977 after his song Zombie, a protest song, was released. Soldiers attacked his home in Lagos, the Kalakuta Republic. The attack led to the death of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who died from injuries during the attack. Even after this painful loss, Fela kept fighting. He took his mother’s coffin to government buildings and released a song called Coffin for Head of State, turning his grief into a powerful political message.
Almost 30 years after he died, the Grammy award is a big moment that honors Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s lasting influence not just as a musical genius, but as a brave voice for resistance, justice, and African identity.