The late Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo Kuti will get a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy next year. They called him the architect of the genre, noting his mix of funk, jazz, and traditional Nigerian sounds that started in the sixties. The special merit ceremony happens at the end of January during Grammy week.
His influence is cited as shaping modern Nigerian music and inspiring major international artists. The award will place him alongside past honorees like Whitney Houston and Paul Simon. His legacy continues through his family, the Kalakuta Museum, and the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.
His influence is cited as shaping modern Nigerian music and inspiring major international artists. The award will place him alongside past honorees like Whitney Houston and Paul Simon. His legacy continues through his family, the Kalakuta Museum, and the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.
