Fela’s ‘Zombie’ Makes History as First Nigerian Album Inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame

Afrobeat legend and activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has been posthumously inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his iconic 1976 album Zombie, making him the first Nigerian artist to receive this prestigious honour.

The Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, announced the selection as part of its annual Hall of Fame inductees. Unlike the regular Grammy awards, this accolade celebrates recordings that are at least 25 years old and possess significant cultural, historical, or artistic value.

In their 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 news, Fela’s eldest son, Femi Kuti, expressed the family’s pride and gratitude via X (formerly Twitter):

“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 & unite people across the world. #Grammy.”

Released in 1976 under Coconut Records in Nigeria and later by Creole Records in the UK, Zombie is widely considered one of Fela’s most influential albums. The project features tracks such as Zombie, Mister Follow Follow, Observation Is No Crime, and Mistake (recorded live at the 1978 Berlin Jazz Festival).

The album’s powerful satire likened Nigerian soldiers to mindless “zombies” who follow orders blindly—a critique that sparked outrage from the military regime of the time. In retaliation, Fela’s Kalakuta Republic commune was raided in 1977. During the violent attack, Fela was brutally assaulted, his recording studio destroyed, and his mother, Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was thrown from a window. She later died from her injuries.

The raid, condemned globally by human rights advocates, cemented Fela’s status as a bold dissenter against military tyranny and a champion of the people.

The Grammy honour places Zombie alongside other legendary works in the Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of albums by Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Santana, and Cat Stevens.

Widely regarded as the father of Afrobeat, Fela fused jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional African rhythms with fierce sociopolitical commentary. Since his passing in 1997, his legacy has endured, inspiring a global following including artists like Seun Kuti, Burna Boy, Questlove, and Beyoncé.

In addition to this Grammy milestone, Fela has been celebrated through multiple documentaries, biographies, and the Broadway musical Fela!.

Born in 1938, Fela never wavered in using his music to confront injustice, even in the face of arrests, censorship, and violent repression. His induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame is seen by many as a long-overdue global recognition of his influence on music and activism worldwide.