Fela Anikulapo Kuti has been awarded a Grammy posthumously, with the Recording Academy hailing him as “an architect of Afrobeat, honored for a lifetime of influence”.

In a tribute shared on Facebook, the organisers of the Grammy Awards celebrated the breadth of Kuti’s legacy, describing him as “a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, activist, and the father of Afrobeat”. 

The Academy traced the roots of his revolutionary sound to the 1960s, noting that “he created the genre by combining funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and a blend of traditional Nigerian rhythms”.

Beyond the music, the Recording Academy underscored how Fela’s work has transcended time and geography. Decades after his death, his sound, message and defiant spirit continue to shape contemporary music and inspire artists across continents.

According to the Academy, “his influence spans generations, shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspiring global artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke”.

The statement added that Fela’s impact lives on not only through his expansive catalogue, but also through the institutions and people preserving his vision. 

“His legacy continues to live on not only through music, but through his family and through the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine,” it said, pointing to the enduring cultural spaces that keep his philosophy and sound alive.

The Recording Academy further explained that on January 31, 2026, it will formally honour this year’s Special Merit Award recipients, including Fela Kuti, with a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition that cements his place as one of the most influential figures in global music history.