Fela breaks Grammy record years after his death

The late Afrobeat icon 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 recognition.

The Recording Academy announced that Fela will be celebrated alongside global music greats including Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Cher, and Chaka Khan for their enduring contributions to music.

In a statement, Harvey Mason Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Recording Academy, described the honourees as “an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres, and the very foundation of modern music.”

The Academy hailed Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” noting his transformative impact on African and global music, as well as his influence on generations of artists across continents.

Earlier this year, the Academy also inducted Fela’s 1976 classic album Zombie into the Grammy Hall of Fame, further cementing his legacy as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.