Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been posthumously inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame, nearly three decades after his death.
Newsonspot gathered that his groundbreaking and politically charged 1976 album, Zombie, earned him the prestigious honour – making Fela the first Nigerian artist ever to receive such recognition.
The announcement was made by the Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, who described Zombie as a fearless critique of oppression with lasting cultural and political impact.
According to the Academy, the album was selected “for its fearless critique of oppression, cultural impact, and enduring relevance to political resistance and African musical heritage.”
Released in Nigeria in 1976 under Coconut Records, and in the UK by Creole Records in 1977, Zombie remains one of Fela’s most powerful works. Its title track mocked the Nigerian military, comparing soldiers to mindless “zombies” who obey commands without question. Other tracks include Mister Follow Follow, Observation Is No Crime, and Mistake, the latter recorded live at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1978.
The album’s popularity triggered backlash from Nigeria’s military regime, culminating in the infamous 1977 attack on Fela’s Lagos commune, Kalakuta Republic. The violent raid resulted in Fela’s severe beating, the destruction of his studio and master tapes, and the tragic death of his mother, Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti – a respected activist – who was thrown from a window during the invasion.
Fela’s oldest son, musician Femi Kuti, reacted to the Grammy announcement on social media:
“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 and unite people across the world.”
With this induction, Zombie now stands alongside classic works from legends like Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Cat Stevens, and Santana. For many fans and scholars, this recognition is a long-overdue global validation of Fela’s impact on music, activism, and culture.
Fela, who passed away in 1997, is celebrated as the pioneer of Afrobeat, blending jazz, highlife, and traditional African rhythms with bold political commentary. Despite arrests, censorship, and violence, he never wavered in using music as a tool for truth.
From inspiring artists like Seun Kuti, Burna Boy, Beyoncé, and Questlove, to being immortalised in documentaries, books, and the Broadway musical Fela!, his legacy only continues to grow.
