Nearly 30 years after his passing, the legendary King of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, is finally receiving major global recognition from the Grammy Awards. The music icon is set to be honored posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award, making him the first African to receive this specific distinction since its inception in 1963.
A Long-Awaited Honor
Reacting to the news, his son Seun Kuti described the award as a validation of what the fans have known for decades.
In an interview with the BBC, Seun said:
“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”
He added:
“It’s bringing balance to a Fela story.”
Changing the Narrative
Fela’s former manager, Rikki Stein, welcomed the development as “better late than never,” noting that while Africa has historically been overlooked by global award bodies, the tide is finally turning. This shift is further evidenced by the recent introduction of the Best African Performance category and the nomination of Nigerian superstar Burna Boy for Best Global Music Album this year.
The Architect of Resistance
Fela was more than just a musician; he was a cultural theorist and a fearless political activist who used his genre, a fusion of jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional African rhythms, to fight military dictatorships.
His defiance often came at a grave personal cost. His 1977 album Zombie, which mocked soldiers, triggered a brutal military raid on his Kalakuta Republic compound that eventually led to the death of his mother, a tragedy he immortalized in the protest anthem Coffin for Head of State. Today, his sonic DNA continues to influence global giants ranging from Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar.