Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, known professionally as Davido, joined members of the Fela Anikulapo-Kuti family at the GRAMMY Honors Party in Los Angeles, organised to celebrate the late Afrobeat legend.
The gathering followed Fela’s posthumous award of the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, making history as the first African artist to receive the honour.
Clips posted on Instagram by Davido’s logistics manager, Israel DMW, captured the artiste with Fela’s children, Femi and Yeni Kuti, alongside other associates at the event.
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While sharing the videos, Israel DMW wrote, “A night for late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Abami Eda of the universe. Outside LA.”
Fela is expected to receive official recognition from the Recording Academy this weekend, as the Lifetime Achievement Award will be formally presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, a day before the main GRAMMY Awards ceremony.
The list of other honourees includes celebrated music figures such as Cher, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Chaka Khan.
Speaking on the development, Fela’s first cousin and head of the Kuti family, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, said the award represents a win for the entire African continent.
“This is a celebration for the African people and they should take it as their award. Another African is being celebrated,” she told AFP.
She, however, advised award institutions to acknowledge artistes’ contributions while they are still alive rather than waiting until after their death.
Considering how Fela might have responded, Ransome-Kuti said the Afrobeat icon would probably have said, “better late than never,” adding that he did not place much value on Western approval during his lifetime.
Meanwhile, Davido’s With You, which features Omah Lay, has also received a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category.
Other nominees in the category include Love by Burna Boy, Gimme Dat by Wizkid and Ayra Starr, Hope and Love by Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo featuring Mehran Matin, and Push 2 Start by South African artiste Tyla.
