Fela Kuti posthumously awarded Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award: First African artist to achieve feat |

In a groundbreaking tribute, the late Nigerian music icon Fela Kuti will receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026, a momentous occasion for African artists everywhere. Renowned for pioneering Afrobeat, Kuti’s revolutionary blend of jazz, funk, and traditional African sounds has left an indelible mark on the world of music, influencing many, including global superstar Beyoncé.

The Grammy Awards are right around the corner, and fans cannot seem to wait to find out what their favorite artists have landed in the nomination section. Along with releasing the nominee list, the firm also released a series of names that will be honored at the award show. This includes Fela Kuti, the legendary and iconic Nigerian musician, composer, and activist who was credited with being the creator of the afrobeat genre.Read on to know more about the singer.

Fela Kuti to be honored at the Grammy Awards 2026

Nigerian musician Fela Kuti is among the creative heads who are to be honored at the upcoming Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. This makes history, as Fela Kuti is the first ever African artist to receive this honor at the Grammys. The award is being given to the Nigerian musician posthumously, almost three decades after his untimely demise in 1997 at the age of 58. The news comes as a celebration to his fans and a tribute to his everlasting legacy.Known as the creator and king of the Afrobeat genre, Kuti was an iconic name in the music scene. He remained active from 1958 to 1997 until his demise at the age of 58. A description of the honour on the Grammys website reads, “Fela’s influence spans generations, inspiring artists such as Beyonce, Paul McCartney and Thom Yorke, and shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats.”

Know all about Fela Kuti

Fela Kuti was born on October 15, 1938, in an upper-class family in Abeokuta, Colonial Nigeria. From an early age, Kuti grew up with a political background as both of his parents were a major part of the anti-colonial movement in Nigeria. He studied at the Trinity College of Music in London, with the trumpet being his main instrument. In the 1970s, Kuti rose to fame after he started pursuing a music career. He was known as the creator of Afrobeats and was known for blending jazz, funk, and traditional African rhythms to create new and beautiful rhythms that live on as his legacy. Beyond music, he was also an activist and politician, and was often labeled as the ‘Black President’ for his fearless voice.