Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has been posthumously recognised with an induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame for his 1976 album, Zombie, in the 2025 class.
This honour arrives almost three decades after his passing, making him the first Nigerian artist to receive this distinction. The Recording Academy, the body behind the Grammy Awards, announced it and listed him among this year’s Hall of Fame inductees.
This award differs from standard Grammy categories as it acknowledges recordings that are at least 25 years old and is recognised for their “lasting qualitative or historical significance.”
In a statement regarding the 2025 selections, the Academy noted Zombie was chosen “for its fearless critique of oppression, cultural impact, and enduring relevance to political resistance and African musical heritage.”
In response to the announcement, Fela’s eldest son and musician, Femi Kuti, expressed the family’s joy on Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter).
“Our father’s legacy lives on. We are honoured to accept this Grammy Hall of Fame award on behalf of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
His music continues to inspire & unite people across the world #Grammy.”
Initially launched in Nigeria in 1976 through Coconut Records and released in the UK by Creole Records in 1977, ‘Zombie’ is considered one of Fela’s most provocative and influential albums. Its considerable commercial success provoked outrage from the military government, leading to a violent state-backed assault on Fela’s commune, the Kalakuta Republic.
During the brutal raid in 1977, Fela suffered severe beatings, his studio and master recordings were destroyed, and his mother, Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a respected activist, was thrown from a window and ultimately died from her injuries.
This attack, which drew widespread condemnation from human rights organisations, reinforced Fela’s image as a courageous musical dissenter and marked a significant event in Nigeria’s sociopolitical landscape.
Fela’s induction places Zombie alongside other iconic albums previously honoured in the Hall of Fame, including works from Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Cat Stevens, and Santana.
Both music scholars and fans have characterised the Grammy recognition as a long-overdue global acknowledgement of Fela’s impact on worldwide music and political discourse.
Fela, who passed away in 1997, is credited with creating Afrobeat, a genre that combined jazz, highlife, and traditional African rhythms with piercing political commentary. His music has inspired many generations of activists and musicians, including Seun Kuti and Burna Boy, as well as international figures like Questlove and Beyoncé.
The Grammy Hall of Fame recognition adds to a growing list of posthumous honours for the late legend, who was featured in numerous documentaries, biographies, and the Broadway production of Fela!
Born in 1938, Fela was a saxophonist, composer, and band leader whose songs consistently addressed corruption, colonialism, and authoritarian rule.
Despite facing numerous arrests, violence, and property destruction at the hands of successive military regimes, Fela remained unwavering in his artistic expression and message.
