Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy has announced.
The award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony scheduled for January 31, 2026, a day before the main Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Other recipients named for the honour include Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, Paul Simon and Carlos Santana.
The Recording Academy says the Lifetime Achievement Award is given to performers who, during their lifetime, made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to recorded music. The award is often presented posthumously.
Fela Kuti did not win a Grammy during his lifetime, but his influence has continued to grow globally since his death in 1997. In 2025, his 1976 album Zombie was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, marking one of the rare occasions an African record received the recognition.
Reacting at the time, his son, Femi Kuti, described the honour as a validation of his father’s lasting legacy, noting that Fela’s music continues to inspire people across generations and continents.
Fela is widely regarded as the creator of Afrobeat, blending jazz, funk, highlife and traditional African rhythms. Beyond music, he was known for his outspoken criticism of political corruption, military rule and social injustice, themes that defined much of his work.
Nearly three decades after his death, Fela’s impact remains visible through annual celebrations such as Felabration in Lagos, international exhibitions and performances, and the continued relevance of his music in global conversations on culture and resistance.
The Lifetime Achievement Award places Fela Kuti among a select group of global music figures recognised for their enduring contribution to the recording industry and further cements his status as one of Africa’s most influential cultural icons.
