Fela Kuti becomes first African artist to receive GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award – Mixmag

A shirtless man, reminiscent of African artist Fela Kuti, plays a saxophone on stage in front of a microphone with a dark green background.

Afrobeats pioneer Fela Kuti is set to become the first African artist to receive a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY. 

It comes almost 30 years after the Nigerian artist passed away, finally recognising his innovative and experimental work in the early sound of Afrobeats, where he combined traditional West African music with jazz and American funk.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was first introduced in 1963 by the GRAMMYs, meaning it will be the first time in its 63 years that an African musician will be recognised for their work in…