The recognition makes Fela the first African musician to receive the prestigious award, a milestone widely seen as a turning point for Afrobeat music on the world stage. The honour was presented in Los Angeles on Saturday night ahead of the main Grammy Awards ceremony and was accepted by his children, Yeni, Femi and Kunle Kuti.
Speaking at the event, musician and bandleader Femi Kuti described the award as more than personal recognition, calling it “a win for Africa and global peace.” He thanked DJs, members of the press, record label Partisan, legal teams and fans worldwide for sustaining Afrobeat’s global presence, noting that their collective efforts had brought his father’s legacy to international prominence.
“This is so important for Africa. It’s so important for world peace and struggle,” Femi said during his acceptance speech.
Yeni Kuti also expressed gratitude to the Recording Academy for the honour, saying she believed their father would be proud of the moment. She acknowledged family members unable to attend the ceremony, including Seun Kuti and Motunrayo, while also recognising Fela’s grandson, Made Kuti, for carrying Afrobeat forward to a new generation.
Fela Kuti’s impact extended far beyond music. Renowned as a political radical and outspoken activist, he used Afrobeat as a tool to confront corruption, military rule and social injustice in Nigeria, cementing his status as one of Africa’s most fearless cultural figures.
The Lifetime Achievement Award places Fela alongside global music legends such as Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher and Paul Simon. In an official 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.”
Although Fela never won a Grammy during his lifetime, his work has received growing posthumous recognition. His 1976 album Zombie was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2025, an honour accepted by Femi and Seun Kuti, who said their father’s music continues to unite people across cultures and borders.
Established in 1962, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers whose creative contributions have had a lasting artistic impact on the recording industry. The first recipient was Bing Crosby in 1963.
Fela’s legacy remains deeply embedded in today’s Afrobeats movement, which dominates global charts. Artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido have sampled, referenced and openly celebrated his work, describing him as a foundational influence. His impact also lives on through institutions like the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.
Across generations, the Kuti family continues to extend that legacy. Collectively, Fela’s sons and grandson have earned eight Grammy nominations, with Femi Kuti receiving six nominations, Seun Kuti one, and Made Kuti also recognised by the Academy.
Decades after his passing, Fela Anikulapo Kuti remains one of Nigeria’s most daring and influential cultural figures—an artist whose music, activism and ideology continue to resonate far beyond Africa’s shores.