Fela Kuti Makes History: First African to Receive Posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

• Legendary Nigerian musician Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti will be posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.
• This marks the first time an African artist has received this prestigious honor, nearly three decades after his death in 1997.
• Fela Kuti is recognized as the creator of Afrobeat, a genre blending jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional African rhythms, known for its political commentary.
• His music and activism challenged authoritarianism and injustice, influencing artists like Beyonce, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke.
• The award solidifies his place in music history and signifies growing recognition for African pioneers in global music institutions.

Why It Matters: Fela Kuti becomes the first African artist to receive a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing his legacy.