The honour was bestowed posthumously at the 2026 Special Merit Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 31, a day before the main Grammy Awards ceremony. His children Yeni, Kunle, Shalewa and Femi Kuti were present to receive the award on his behalf.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the Afrobeat legend, has made history as the first African musician to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.
The honour was bestowed posthumously at the 2026 Special Merit Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 31, a day before the main Grammy Awards ceremony. His children Yeni, Kunle, Shalewa and Femi Kuti were present to receive the award on his behalf.
While addressing the audience, Yeni Kuti thanked the Recording Academy and said she believed their father would be “smiling down on us.”
She also recognised her siblings Motunrayo and Seun, who were absent, and applauded her nephew Made Kuti for pushing Afrobeat to greater heights.
“I’m sure my father is smiling down on us.
“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.”
Femi Kuti, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to those who have helped sustain and spread Afrobeat across the world, including DJs, media practitioners, their record label Partisan, legal teams and fans globally.
He described the recognition as a milestone not just for their late father, but for Africa and the global fight for justice.
“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 shared the prestigious honour with other celebrated figures in global music, among them Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher and Paul Simon.
1SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
LATEST POSTS
-
Court affirms David Mark-led ADC, dismisses Abejide’s suit
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday affirmed Sen. David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Justice Musa Liman, in a judgment, also dimissed the suit filed by Rep Leke Abejide challenging Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the party for lacking in…
-
The Phantom Presidential Council Scandal
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas In today’s Saturday column, I examine how Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi’s phantom presidential council scandal exposes a Nigerian state so porous and so rotten that a counterfeit agency could walk through its corridors wearing the face of power: The Phantom Presidential Council Scandal By Farooq A. Kperogi I first received a WhatsApp forward…
-
PFIPC: NDC demands Gbajabiamila’s removal over alleged fake agency, appointment scandal
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas By Myke Uzendu, Abuja The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the immediate removal of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to an alleged corruption scandal involving a purported non-existent government agency and the alleged sale of public appointments. Recall that…
