Music Legend Fela Kuti: First African Recipient of the Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award
9 hours ago
By Mark Wilberforce
Long hailed as the king of Afrobeat, the late Fela Kuti is finally receiving the recognition he deserves from the global music industry. The iconic Nigerian artist will be honored posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys—nearly three decades after his passing at the age of 58.
– A Long-Awaited Recognition:
“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now that the Grammys have acknowledged it, it’s a double victory,” remarks his son, Seun Kuti, in an interview with BBC.
Rikki Stein, a close friend and manager of Fela, reflects, “It’s better late than never.” He notes, “Africa hasn’t traditionally been on their radar, but that’s beginning to change.”
– The Influence of Fela Kuti:
With the rise of Afrobeats, a genre that draws inspiration from Fela’s sound, the Grammys have introduced the Best African Performance category for 2024. This year, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy is also nominated for Best Global Music Album. However, it is Fela Kuti who will be the first African to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Other notable musicians receiving awards this year include:
– Carlos Santana
– Chaka Khan
– Paul Simon
Fela Kuti’s Enduring Legacy
Fela Kuti remains closely associated with Lagos, where his legendary performances at the Afrika Shrine have become part of musical lore. Rikki Stein emphasizes Fela’s role as a champion for those enduring social injustices, stating, “He castigated any form of corruption or mismanagement in government; this aspect of Fela’s legacy cannot be ignored.”
More than just a musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a cultural theorist and political activist, the architect of Afrobeat—a genre characterized by its fusion of West African rhythms, jazz, funk, highlife, improvisation, and politically charged lyrics. Over a prolific career spanning three decades, he released more than 50 albums that intertwined musicality with ideology, rhythm with resistance, and performance with protest.
– Defiance Against Authority:
Fela faced incessant backlash from Nigeria’s military regimes. Following the release of the album Zombie, which critiqued government soldiers, his Lagos compound, Kalakuta Republic, was brutally raided. Despite the assault that ultimately led to the death of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Fela transformed his grief into a powerful message through the song Coffin for Head of State.
Fela’s ideology blended pan-Africanism with anti-imperialist sentiment. His mother’s influence shaped his political identity, while the US-born activist Sandra Izsadore underscored his revolutionary outlook. Born Olufela Olusegun Oludoton Ransome-Kuti, he later dropped the Western-sounding surname, asserting his African roots.
In a well-publicized ceremony in 1978, Fela married 27 women, highlighting the communal vision integral to the Kalakuta Republic. Throughout his life, he endured multiple arrests and violent suppression yet continued to amplify his voice, steadfast in his mission for liberation.
Fela Kuti and His Musical Evolution
Fela Kuti was profoundly influenced by Ghana’s highlife music, which dominated West Africa in the 1950s and 1960s. He absorbed its structures and arrangements, blending these with jazz, funk, and Yoruba rhythms. In this sense, Afrobeat transcends national boundaries, embodying a pan-African essence.
On stage, Fela was a mesmerizing presence—often bare-chested and adorned in vibrant West African fabrics, saxophone in hand. His performances were a unique amalgamation of concert, political rally, and spiritual ceremony. Rikki Stein recalls, “When Fela played, nobody applauded. The audience was part of it.”
Fela Kuti’s distinct visual identity was shaped by artist Lemi Ghariokwu, who designed 26 of his album covers between 1974 and 1993. Ghariokwu remarked, “Fela has been an ancestor for 28 years. His legacy is growing by the day.”
Even today, millions worldwide resonate with Fela’s music, and his influence is palpable in contemporary artists such as Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, and Idris Elba. Notably, Elba has curated the Fela Kuti Box Set 6 and has drawn comparisons between Fela and legends like Sade and Frank Sinatra.
Final Thoughts on Fela Kuti
Seun Kuti, who was just 14 when his father passed away, reflects on Fela’s legacy: “He never made me feel like I was a child. He didn’t hide anything from me.” He emphasizes the importance of discipline, clarity, and humanity in Fela’s life. “Fela was our dad, but you didn’t own him. He belonged to himself, and we all belonged to him.”
Fela Kuti’s ethos of service over self shaped Seun’s artistic journey, as he shifted from making music for profit to prioritizing cultural responsibility. Fela led bands like Africa 70 and Egypt 80—groups that functioned as musical militias, dedicated to an ideological mission rather than mere entertainment.
With the Grammys honoring Fela Kuti this year, it serves as a testament to his vital contributions to music and cultural identity. His story is not merely about recognition; it is a celebration of a legacy that continues to inspire new generations across Africa and beyond.