‎Music legend Fela becomes first African to get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award‎

‎Long crowned by his legion of fans as the king of Afrobeat, the late Fela Kuti is finally being recognised by the global music industry.
‎The Nigerian star will posthumously receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys – almost three decades after his death at the age of 58.
‎”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,” his musician son Seun Kuti tells the BBC.
‎”It’s bringing balance to a Fela story,” he adds.
‎Rikki Stein, a long-time friend and manager of the late musician, says the recognition by the Grammys is “better late than never”.
‎”Africa hasn’t in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that’s changing quite a bit of late,” Stein tells the BBC.
‎Following the global success of Afrobeats, a genre inspired by Fela’s sound, the Grammys introduced the category of Best African Performance in 2024.
‎This year, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy also has a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category.
‎But Fela Kuti will be the first African to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, albeit posthumously. The award was first presented in 1963 to American singer and actor Bing Crosby.
‎Other musicians who will receive the award this year include Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, the American singer known as the Queen of Funk, and Paul Simon.
‎Fela Kuti’s family, as well friends and colleagues, will be attending the Grammys to receive his award.
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‎”The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it’s my father,” Seun Kuti tells the BBC.