Nearly three decades after his passing, the pulse of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s music is louder than ever. The late Afrobeat pioneer has been posthumously inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame, honoured for his seismic 1976 album Zombie, a fearless, genre-defining project that shook the foundations of Nigerian society and gave voice to a generation.
The Grammy Hall of Fame, established by the Recording Academy’s National Trustees in 1973, recognises recordings of enduring artistic, cultural, or historical value. Zombie, with its hypnotic beats and politically charged messaging, fits that criteria unflinchingly. The album’s inclusion this year is a nod not only to its musical brilliance, but to its lasting impact on political resistance and artistic integrity.
Fela’s eldest son, Femi Kuti, accepted the honour on behalf of the family. “Our father’s legacy lives on. We are honoured to accept this Grammy Hall of Fame award on behalf of Fela Anikulapo Kuti,” he said. “His music continues to inspire and unite people across the world.”
Zombie was more than an album. It was a musical act of protest. Using sarcasm and biting lyricism, Fela compared the Nigerian military’s blind obedience to the mindless behaviour of zombies. The backlash was brutal; his Kalakuta Republic was invaded, his mother was thrown from a window, and the Nigerian government made him a public enemy. But Fela never backed down.
Today, the boldness of Zombie echoes in movements like #EndSARS, which borrowed heavily from his spirit of defiance. It continues to inspire artists who see music as a tool for truth-telling, from Burna Boy and Seun Kuti to international acts like Erykah Badu, Coldplay and Alicia Keys.
This Grammy recognition is more than overdue. It is a global affirmation of a revolutionary who used the mic as a weapon and rhythm as resistance. Fela didn’t just make music; he built a cultural armoury. And now, history has given him another salute.
