Legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti don set to receive one of the music industry’s highest honours as part of the 2026 Grammy Awards. Fela, wey dey widely recognised as the father of Afrobeat, go posthumously receive a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award for the massive influence wey im career don get on music around di world.
According to Grammy organisers, dis special merit recognition dey come as part of the Special Merit Awards ceremony, wey dey hold during Grammy Week ahead of the main award show. The ceremony go take place on January 31, 2026, and Fela join a group of music legends wey don receive the same honour in the past, including some of the greatest global artists.
The Recording Academy describe Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat”, highlighting say im style and innovation helped shape Afrobeat into the powerful genre wey e be today. Fela, wey die in 1997, begin Afrobeat in the 1960s by blending different musical elements such as funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and traditional Nigerian rhythms, creating a sound wey no only entertain but also carry strong messages about politics, society, and resistance.
Fela’s influence no stop for Nigeria alone. Grammy organisers note say im music don inspire generations of musicians both home and abroad. Some big international artists wey im work or influence include huge names wey dey global music scene today. His legacy still dey alive through Afrobeat and because im children and family members wey continue to promote his art and message.
Insiders say the Lifetime Achievement Award go further cement Fela’s place for music history because na one of di biggest recognitions a musician fit receive, particularly for someone wey dey carry culture, activism, and sound together. The award dey given to artists whose creative contributions carry outstanding artistic significance and leave a permanent mark for the world’s musical landscape.
Apart from Fela, this year’s Special Merit Awards list also include other artists from different backgrounds, recognising their lifetime achievements and impact on world music. The honour show say Afrobeat no just be genre for Nigeria but na global sound wey don shape the direction of modern music.
As the 2026 Grammy Awards approach, Nigerian music community don celebrate this recognition, seeing am as a reflection of how far Afrobeat don travel and how Fela’s work still dey influence new generations of artists. People expect say the special awards ceremony go be one memorable night for Afrobeat fans around the world as Fela’s legacy dey recognised among music legends.
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