Overview
- The honor was presented in Los Angeles on Saturday at the Special Merit ceremony held the day before the 68th Grammy Awards, with his children accepting on his behalf.
- Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu lauded Kuti as a fearless voice for the people and said the award affirms Africa’s foundational role in modern music.
- The Recording Academy’s citation said his influence spans generations, naming Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and Thom Yorke, and credited him with shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats.
- The recognition comes as African music gains visibility at the Grammys following the 2024 launch of Best African Performance, a category where Nigerian artists have been prominent.
- Kuti’s legacy pairs Afrobeat innovation with political resistance, including repeated arrests under military rule and the 1977 Kalakuta raid following his album Zombie.