For Fela's family and friends, some of whom attended the event, the recognition is both a long-awaited tribute and a reminder of the global impact of his work.
'The family is happy about it. And we're excited that he's finally being recognised,' said Yeni Kuti, Fela's daughter. 'But Fela was never nominated in his lifetime,' she added, reflecting on the late acknowledgement.
Lemi Ghariokwu, the Nigerian artist behind 26 of Fela's iconic album covers, described the moment as historic.
'It's good to have one of us represented in that category, at that level. I'm excited and honoured to witness it,' he said. Yet Ghariokwu admitted he was also surprised. 'Fela was totally anti-establishment. And now, the establishment is recognising him,' he noted.
Fela's family believes he would have been largely indifferent to the accolade. 'He didn't at all [care about awards]. He didn't even think about it,' said Yeni. 'He played music because he loved music. It was to be acknowledged by his people, by human beings, by fellow artists, that made him happy.'
His cousin, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, added that while the award may not have mattered to him personally, he would have appreciated the broader significance. 'He would recognise the fact that it's a good thing for such establishments to begin the process of giving honour where it's due across the continent,' she said.
Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in 1938 in Ogun State, Nigeria, Fela later adopted the name Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti. He initially went to London to study medicine, but instead pursued music at Trinity College of Music, where he developed his distinctive sound blending jazz, highlife, and traditional African rhythms.
Returning to Nigeria in the 1960s, Fela pioneered Afrobeat, a genre that fused Yoruba music, funk, soul, and jazz. His music was both revolutionary and political, becoming a tool to challenge corruption, military rule, and social injustice.
In the 1970s, he declared his Lagos commune, the Kalakuta Republic, independent from the Nigerian state, and released the scathing album Zombie, which criticised the military, an act that led to violent raids and the death of his mother.
Despite frequent arrests and harassment, Fela became an international symbol of artistic resistance. Amnesty International later recognised him as a prisoner of conscience. When he died in 1997 at age 58, his funeral in Lagos drew an estimated one million people.
Fela's influence stretches across decades, inspiring artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke, as well as shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats. His music, fashion, and activism continue to resonate, with his children maintaining his legacy through initiatives like the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos and the annual Felabration festival.
Kuti's son Femi described the recognition as significant for Africa and global culture, calling his father a figure of international importance.
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award places Fela Kuti in a historic spotlight, highlighting his role not only as the father of Afrobeat but also as a fearless advocate for African identity, unity, and creative freedom.
Alongside Fela, the Recording Academy also honoured Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, and Whitney Houston at the Special Merit Awards ceremony, celebrating decades of artistic influence across genres and continents.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
