Grammys To Honour Fela With Special Merit Award

The biggest music awards body, The Grammys has announced its decision to award legendary Nigerian Musician, Late Fela Kuti, with a special merit award.

This announcement was made by the body via its social handles on Friday, December 19, 2025 in respect to the forthcoming 68th Annual Grammys Awards on February 1, 2026.

The Grammys described Fela as An architect of Afrobeat, who is honored for a lifetime of influence.

“Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, activist, and the father of Afrobeat.”

” In the 1960s, he created the genre by combining funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and a blend of traditional Nigerian rhythms.”

“His influence spans generations, shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspiring global artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke.”

“His legacy continues to live on not only through music, but through his family and through the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine.”

“On January 31, 2026 we are honoring this year’s Special Merit Award recipients, including Fela Kuti with a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The legendary singer, who did not win the Grammys during his lifetime, despite having 6 nominations, is finally set to get the honour that is due to him.

It was earlier reported by Kristina Reports that Nigerian contemporary Afrobeats stars were nominated in the forthcoming Grammys award with Burna Boy leading the Nomination list for Nigeria and Africa as a whole with 3 nominations.