Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be posthumously honoured with a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

The Recording Academy recognised Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” highlighting his transformative influence on the genre and generations of artists worldwide.

“An architect of Afrobeat, honoured 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,” the Academy said.

Fela will join an esteemed group of past recipients, including Whitney Houston, Cher, and Paul Simon. His impact extends globally, influencing artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke, while his legacy continues through his family, the Kalakuta Museum, and the New Afrika Shrine.

The Special Merit Awards ceremony is scheduled for January 31, 2026, during Grammy Week, ahead of the main Grammy Awards event.