Late Afrobeat trailblazer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is set to make history as the first African musician to receive the Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Grammy Awards.

The prestigious recognition will place the Nigerian icon alongside global music legends including Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Cher and Chaka Khan, underscoring his lasting influence on the international music landscape.

In a statement released by the Recording Academy, its Chief Executive Officer, Harvey Mason Jr., described the honourees as “an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres, and the very foundation of modern music.”

The Academy hailed Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” crediting him with shaping a genre that continues to inspire artists across continents. His legacy, it noted, remains deeply rooted in both musical innovation and cultural expression.

This latest honour follows the Academy’s induction of Fela’s politically charged 1976 album Zombie into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame, further cementing his enduring global relevance.