By Ebi Kesiena
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, joined members of the Anikulapo-Kuti family in Los Angeles as the Recording Academy celebrated the enduring legacy of Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
The gathering, held at the GRAMMY Honours Party, marked Fela’s posthumous recognition with the prestigious GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, a historic feat that positions him as the first African artist to receive the honour.
Footage shared on Instagram by Davido’s logistics manager, Israel DMW, captured the singer in the company of Fela’s children, including renowned musician Femi Kuti and Yeni Kuti, alongside other members of the late legend’s extended family and entourage at the event.
Posting clips from the ceremony, Israel DMW described the night as a tribute to the Afrobeat originator, writing: “A night for late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Abami Eda of the universe. Outside LA.”
Fela is scheduled to be officially honoured by the Recording Academy at a formal ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, ahead of the main GRAMMY Awards gala. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises performers who have made outstanding creative contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording.
Other global music icons named among this year’s recipients include Cher, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Chaka Khan, addressing the global stature of the award and the calibre of artists celebrated.
Reacting to the development, Fela’s first cousin and head of the Kuti family, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, described the recognition as a collective win for the African continent.
“This is a celebration for the African people, and they should take it as their award. Another African is being celebrated,” she said in an interview with AFP.
However, Ransome-Kuti also urged international award institutions to acknowledge artists while they are still alive, rather than waiting until after their passing. Reflecting on how Fela might have reacted, she suggested the Afrobeat icon would likely have shrugged it off with a “better late than never” remark, noting that Western validation was never a driving force for him during his lifetime.
Meanwhile, Davido is also enjoying GRAMMY recognition this year, as his song With You, featuring Omah Lay, earned a nomination for Best African Music Performance.
The category features stiff competition from Burna Boy’s Love, Wizkid and Ayra Starr’s Gimme Dat, Hope and Love by Ugandan star Eddy Kenzo featuring Mehran Matin, and Push 2 Start by South African singer Tyla.
