Late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be posthumously honoured with a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Grammy Awards, becoming the first African musician to receive the prestigious honour.
The Nigerian music legend will be celebrated alongside global icons including Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Cher and Chaka Khan.
In a statement, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. described the honourees as “an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres, and the very foundation of modern music.”
The Recording Academy recognised Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” citing his groundbreaking role in shaping the genre and his lasting influence on artists across generations.
Fela’s legacy has also been further cemented with his 1976 album, Zombie, recently inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame.
