The Recording Academy will posthumously honour legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, recognising his lasting impact on African music and culture around the globe.
The Special Merit Award was announced on Friday via the Recording Academy’s official Instagram page, honouring the late artist for his lasting influence in shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspiring generations of artists worldwide.
Fela was described by the Academy as “an architect of Afrobeat,” celebrating a lifetime of influence that transcended music.
“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,” the statement read.
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.
The latest honour marks Fela’s second major Grammy recognition within six months, following his induction into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his 1976 socio-political project, ‘Zombie.’
Fela is a worldwide music icon who created a new, influential sound that has crossed generations, both in Nigeria and internationally, inspiring leading global artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, Asake, Beyoncé, and many others.
Apart from his musical dexterity, Fela was also a political activist and radical, using his voice and music to advocate for the rights of the people.
