The Recording Academy has officially inducted Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s iconic 1976 album Zombie into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame, recognizing the Afrobeat pioneer’s seminal work for its enduring artistic and historical significance.
The announcement came earlier this week, with the Academy stating that the album met its stringent criteria for recordings “of lasting qualitative or historical significance.” The honour was accepted on behalf of the Kuti family by Fela’s eldest son and fellow musician, Femi Kuti, who called the recognition an “honour.”
Established in 1973, the Grammy Hall of Fame celebrates recordings that are at least 25 years old and continue to impact culture and music. Inductees are chosen annually by a committee of respected professionals across the recording arts.
Zombie, released during Nigeria’s military era, was one of Fela’s most politically charged works. The album condemned the Nigerian military for its brutality and blind obedience to authority. Its powerful critique triggered a violent backlash in 1977, when soldiers reportedly attacked Fela’s Kalakuta Republic—destroying property and inflicting harm on his family and community members.
Despite repeated efforts to silence him, Fela’s bold messaging and defiant artistry continue to echo across generations. His music, particularly Zombie, has remained a symbol of resistance and political commentary in Nigeria and around the world.
Now inducted alongside classic works by artists like Jay-Z, Santana, and Cat Stevens, Zombie stands as a testament to Fela’s legacy as a musical revolutionary and cultural icon.
The timing of this recognition is especially poignant as Nigeria prepares to mark 26 years of uninterrupted democracy on June 12, 2025. While the return to democratic rule in 1999 was expected to usher in a new era of governance, many Nigerians believe the promises of that transition remain unfulfilled.
With widespread poverty, rampant insecurity, high inflation, and rising unemployment still plaguing the nation, Fela’s biting critiques of systemic oppression continue to resonate. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, public dissatisfaction grows as citizens await tangible benefits from economic reforms.
Fela Kuti may have passed nearly three decades ago, but his voice—amplified through records like Zombie—remains as urgent and relevant as ever.
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