Music legend Fela Kuti becomes first African to get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete January 30, 2026 at 01:13 AM
Music legend Fela Kuti becomes first African to get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Fela Kuti, the late Nigerian musician and Afrobeat pioneer, will posthumously receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys, marking the first time an African artist has been honored with this award. The recognition comes nearly three decades after his death in 1997. His son, Seun Kuti, and long-time manager, Rikki Stein, see this as a significant acknowledgment of Fela's lasting impact and a step towards greater inclusion of African music by the Grammys. The award coincides with the growing global popularity of Afrobeats, a genre inspired by Fela's sound, and the introduction of the Best African Performance category at the Grammys. Fela Kuti is celebrated for his musical innovation, political activism, and critique of social injustice.

Keywords

fela kuti 100% grammys lifetime achievement award 90% afrobeat 80% african music 70% music industry 60% social injustice 50% political agitator 40% nigerian music 40%

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BBC News - World
Political Lean
Center (0.00)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
Nigeria

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