Grammy Hall of Fame: Fela Kuti shines with Zombie, making history
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Grammy Hall of Fame: Fela Kuti shines with Zombie, making history
With almost three decades after his death, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has posthumously made history, becoming the first Nigerian artiste inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The Recording Academy announced that Fela’s politically charged 1976 album Zombie is among the 2025 inductees.
The Grammy Hall of Fame, unlike the regular Grammy Awards, honors recordings that are at least 25 years old and have made lasting qualitative or historical contributions to the music industry.
In its statement, the Academy praised Zombie for its “fearless critique of oppression, cultural impact, and enduring relevance to political resistance and African musical heritage.”
Reacting to the historic recognition, Fela’s eldest son, Femi Kuti, expressed the family’s pride 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,” Femi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Originally released in Nigeria in 1976 under Coconut Records, and later in the UK by Creole Records in 1977, Zombie remains one of Fela’s most provocative and influential works.
With tracks such as Zombie, Mister Follow Follow, Observation Is No Crime, and Mistake (recorded live at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1978), the album boldly mocked the Nigerian military, comparing soldiers to mindless “zombies” who blindly follow orders.
The album’s massive success also attracted the wrath of Nigeria’s ruling military regime. In 1977, soldiers launched a brutal raid on Fela’s Kalakuta Republic commune in Lagos.
During the attack, Fela was beaten, his recording studio and master tapes were destroyed, and his mother, the renowned activist Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was thrown from a window and later died from her injuries.
The state-backed assault, widely condemned by human rights groups, further solidified Fela’s status as an unrelenting voice against tyranny.
With his Grammy Hall of Fame induction, Zombie now stands alongside legendary recordings by global icons like Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Santana, and Cat Stevens.
His fearless artistry continues to inspire generations of musicians and activists, from his sons Seun and Femi Kuti to international stars like Burna Boy, Questlove, and Beyoncé.
Music scholars and fans worldwide have hailed the honor as long overdue recognition of Fela’s groundbreaking contributions to global music and political discourse. Best headphones deals
Fela, who passed away in 1997, is globally celebrated as the creator of Afrobeat—a genre blending jazz, highlife, funk, and African rhythms with scathing political commentary.
