The iconic legacy of Nigeria's Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, is set to receive one of the music industry's highest accolades. The Recording Academy has announced it will honour the late musician with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.
A Prestigious Honour for an African Icon
The award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on January 31, 2026, in Los Angeles, just one day before the main Grammy Awards event. This places Fela in an elite group of performers recognised for their outstanding artistic contributions to recorded music.
The announcement, made public by the Recording Academy on Friday, December 19, 2025, reveals that Fela will be honoured alongside other global music legends. The list of fellow 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients includes Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, Paul Simon, and Carlos Santana.
Recognition of a Lasting Legacy
Although Fela Kuti, who passed away in 1997, never won a competitive Grammy during his lifetime, his influence has only grown. This honour follows the recent induction of his seminal 1976 album, Zombie, into the Grammy Hall of Fame earlier this year.
The news was met with pride from his family. His first son, renowned musician Femi Kuti, shared the announcement on social media, celebrating his father's enduring impact on global music culture.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerian Netizens
Following the announcement, Nigerians flooded social media with a spectrum of opinions. While many celebrated the recognition, others questioned its timing.
Here are some of the notable reactions compiled from social media platforms:
- One user (@sir_banti48) suggested the honour was influenced by recent documentaries: "As Una wacth wiz documentary Una come realise baba desaver it."
- Another (@leeclinton_cmc) simply declared Fela the "Owner of afrobeats."
- User @legendpaapi expressed scepticism: "They just like to they use Nigeria trend every year but na story of another day sha."
- Many, like @ocho_095, felt the award was "Long overdue."
- User @tonyodion7 pointedly asked, "When he Dey alive why una nor give am Grammy.. make una gat out."
- Others, like @badmanpizy_, downplayed the Grammy's importance: "We all know Grammy is overrated...Fela will forever be a legend his name will forever live on."
The conversation also touched on the broader relationship between African artists and major Western awards. User @lankyjade_official commented, "Without Africa no music you’ll use us to have traffic," while @khaliph_luxury_wears suggested, "@grammys want Nigerians attentions."
This posthumous award solidifies Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's position not just as a Nigerian hero, but as a foundational pillar of modern global music whose revolutionary sound and message continue to resonate decades after his passing.
