Nearly thirty years after his death, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has made history by becoming the first Nigerian artiste to be inducted into the prestigious Grammy Hall of Fame. The Recording Academy confirmed the 2025 honour for Fela’s seminal 1976 album Zombie, a landmark protest record that continues to echo across generations.
The Grammy Hall of Fame, unlike the award’s competitive categories, celebrates recordings deemed to hold “lasting qualitative or historical significance.” Fela now joins an elite group of inductees that includes global icons like Jay-Z, Michael Jackson, Santana, and Cat Stevens.
Released under Coconut Records in Nigeria and later by Creole Records in the UK, Zombie is widely regarded as one of Fela’s most daring and politically charged projects. The title track, along with Mister Follow Follow, Observation is No Crime, and Mistake—the latter recorded live at the 1978 Berlin Jazz Festival—offered blistering commentary on the militarisation of Nigeria under military rule.
The album’s impact was both cultural and confrontational. It not only achieved commercial success but also stirred deep public consciousness, which in turn provoked severe retaliation from the Nigerian authorities. Fela’s home and commune, the Kalakuta Republic, was brutally raided by soldiers, leading to the death of his mother, iconic women’s rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. The attack also left Fela severely injured and his property destroyed.
Fela’s eldest son, Femi Kuti, who is also a Grammy-nominated musician, shared the news on Wednesday via 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,” Femi posted.
He continued: “His music continues to inspire & unite people across the world #Grammy.”
Music historians and cultural critics have long praised Zombie for its fearless messaging and innovative fusion of jazz, funk, and traditional African rhythms.
With this induction, Fela’s voice which once rattled dictators and inspired resistance has officially secured a place in global music history. It’s a recognition that underlines both his musical genius and his enduring influence as a revolutionary figure in African and world music.
