Overview
- The Recording Academy presented the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award to Fela Kuti on Saturday at the Special Merit Awards event in Los Angeles.
- His children Yeni, Kunle, Shalewa and Femi Kuti accepted the award on his behalf.
- The Academy described Kuti as an architect of Afrobeat and highlighted his influence on modern Afrobeats and global artists.
- Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu praised the recognition in an official statement, calling Kuti a fearless voice of the people and affirming his global impact.
- The accolade follows the Grammys’ 2024 launch of a Best African Performance category and the 2025 induction of Kuti’s album Zombie into the Hall of Fame.