Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti has received a major Grammy Award nearly three decades after his death.
According to the BBC, the Recording Academy will posthumously present the Nigerian music icon with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards, making him the first African to receive the honor.
The prize recognizes Fela’s lasting impact on global music and culture, according to the BBC.
Reacting to the recognition, his son and Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, said, “Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory. It’s bringing balance to a Fela story.”
Rikki Stein, the late singer’s former manager and longtime associate, stated that the honor was long overdue.
“Africa hasn’t in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that’s changing quite a bit of late,” Stein said.
According to the BBC, the recognition comes at a time when global interest in African music is growing, thanks in large part to the international popularity of Afrobeats, a genre based on Fela’s works.
The Grammys will debut the Best African Performance category in 2024, and Nigerian musician Burna Boy has been nominated for Best Global Music Album this year.
Fela’s Lifetime Achievement Award positions him alongside worldwide music giants. Previous recipients include Bing Crosby, while this year’s honorees include Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, and Paul Simon.
Members of Fela’s family, friends, and acquaintances are anticipated to attend the ceremony to accept the honor on his behalf.
“The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it’s my father,” Seun Kuti said.
The BBC regarded Fela as more than just a musician, characterizing him as a cultural thinker, political activist, and Afrobeat pioneer.
With drummer Tony Allen, he pioneered the genre by fusing West African rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife, characterized by lengthy improvisation and political lyrics.
During his career, which lasted until his death in 1997, Fela published over 50 albums and became a passionate critic of authority, frequently clashing with Nigerian military rulers through his music and activism.
