Fela Kuti Becomes First African to Receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti has been posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic moment for African music on the global stage.

The honour, announced by the Recording Academy in January 2026, was presented at the Special Merit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, ahead of the 68th Grammy Awards.

It recognises Fela’s lasting influence on music, political activism and African cultural identity, more than 25 years after his death.

The recognition has been welcomed by Rite Foods Limited, makers of Fearless Energy Drink, who say the award reinforces the ideals their brand associates with the late musician.

Rite Foods had earlier, in 2021, become the first Nigerian brand to confer a posthumous honour on Fela, celebrating his audacity and outspoken activism during the Felabration festival at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos.

Why It Matters

Fela’s Grammy recognition places African music more firmly within global cultural history, long dominated by Western narratives.

For younger audiences, the recognition revives conversations around Fela’s fearless challenge of authority and his role in shaping Afrobeat as a global genre.

Brand and Corporate Reaction

Reacting to the award, Seleem Adegunwa, Managing Director of Rite Foods Limited, described the Grammy honour as long overdue.

“Fela Anikulapo Kuti embodied fearlessness in its purest form using his music to challenge injustice, awaken consciousness, and inspire pride in African identity. That same fearless energy is what our brand stands for, and we are proud to have been the first to formally honour his legacy posthumously. This Grammy recognition further cements his place among the world’s greatest musical legends,” Adegunwa said.

The company says its association with Fela is rooted in shared values of boldness, authenticity and resistance to conformity.

Government and National Response

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a congratulatory message to the Kuti family, also paid tribute to the late Afrobeat icon.

He described Fela as “a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.”

The message reflects official recognition of Fela’s role not just as an entertainer, but as a historical figure in Nigeria’s socio-political journey.

For brands and cultural institutions, the moment highlights the growing intersection between music, identity and corporate storytelling in Nigeria’s creative economy.

What’s Next

Rite Foods says it will continue to celebrate Fela’s influence through Fearless Energy Drink’s sponsorship of Felabration, including the 2025 edition themed “Shakara, No Fear.”

The company says its youth-focused activations aim to keep Fela’s message alive among new generations through music, art and cultural expression.

As global attention returns to Fela’s legacy, stakeholders say the Grammy honour may prompt renewed calls for deeper documentation and preservation of Africa’s musical history.