Afrobeat pioneer and cultural icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has posthumously made history as the first African musician to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.
The prestigious honour was conferred at the 2026 Special Merit Awards held in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 31, a day ahead of the main Grammy Awards ceremony. Fela’s children — Yeni, Kunle, Shalewa and Femi Kuti — were present to receive the award on his behalf.
Speaking at the event, Yeni Kuti expressed gratitude to the Recording Academy, saying she believed their late father would be proud of the recognition.
“I’m sure my father is smiling down on us,” she said.
She also acknowledged her siblings Motunrayo and Seun, who were absent, and praised her nephew, Made Kuti, for advancing Afrobeat to new levels globally.
“I want to acknowledge my siblings who couldn’t be here tonight, Motunrayo and Seun, and my nephew who is carrying Afrobeat to another level, Made,” Yeni added.
In his remarks, Femi Kuti thanked those who have helped preserve and promote Afrobeat worldwide, including DJs, media practitioners, their record label Partisan, legal teams and fans across the globe.
He described the award as a landmark achievement not only for their late father but also for Africa and the global struggle for justice and peace.
“I would like to thank all the people carrying Afrobeat that are in this place tonight — DJs, the press, our label Partisan, our lawyers, fans all over the world. Thank you for bringing our father here. It’s so important for Africa. It’s so important for world peace and struggle,” Femi said.
Fela Kuti shared the Lifetime Achievement honour with other legendary figures in global music, including Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher and Paul Simon.