By BENJAMIN NJOKU

Legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti, will be in the spotlight again this Sunday, as he receives a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the 68th Grammy Awards, in recognition of his profound impact on African music and global culture.

This honour acknowledges his pioneering work in creating Afrobeat, a genre that blends traditional Nigerian rhythms with funk, jazz, and salsa, and has inspired artists like Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke.

Fela’s legacy extends beyond music, as he used his platform to speak out against corruption and colonialism, influencing generations of artists and activists. His children, Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, and Kunle Kuti, will accept the award on his behalf in Los Angeles.

Critics believe that the honour will put to rest the ongoing feud between Seun Kuti and Wizkid over Fela’s legacy. This posthumous recognition by the Recording Academy cements Fela’s status as a global cultural architect from Nigeria, whose influence on music and political consciousness remains unmatched.

“Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, activist, and the father of Afrobeat. In the 1960s, he pioneered the genre by blending funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and traditional Nigerian rhythms.

“His influence spans generations, shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspiring global artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke. His legacy continues to live on not only through his music but also through his family, the Kalakuta Museum, and the New Afrika Shrine,” read a statement released late last year on the Recording Academy’s official Instagram.

This recognition cements Fela’s status as a global cultural icon and comes nearly 30 years after his death. It also follows his recent induction into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his album ‘Zombie

The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 1962, honours performers with outstanding creative contributions to recording, and who, during their lifetimes, made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. The first recipient of the award was Bing Crosby in 1963.

Fela joins a notable lineup of stars to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside legends such as Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, The Clash, Prince, Dr Bobby Jones, Roxanne Shanté, Frankie Valli, Taj Mahal, and Paul Simon.

The accolade came nearly 30 years after his death and will be presented on January 31, 2026, alongside other posthumous honourees. It will precede the 68th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, 1 February, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.