Legendary Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti has once again received global recognition, as his groundbreaking 1976 album Zombie has been inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame.
The Recording Academy announced the latest additions to its prestigious Hall of Fame on Thursday, celebrating recordings that have made a lasting impact on music and culture. Fela’s Zombie was selected for its artistic significance, cultural influence, and enduring legacy in the global music scene.
Released in 1976, Zombie is widely regarded as one of Fela’s most politically charged and musically powerful works. The album used searing Afrobeat rhythms and biting satire to criticise the Nigerian military regime of the time, likening soldiers to mindless “zombies” who blindly follow orders. Its bold messaging led to severe retaliation from the authorities, including the infamous 1977 attack on Fela’s Kalakuta Republic compound in Lagos.
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Despite or perhaps because of its controversial reception, Zombie has stood the test of time as an iconic protest album and a symbol of resistance against oppression in Africa and beyond.
With this induction, Zombie joins a distinguished list of recordings preserved for their historical and cultural significance. The Grammy Hall of Fame honours recordings that are at least 25 years old and exhibit qualitative or historical importance.
Music lovers, historians, and fans of Fela across the world have welcomed the news as another testament to the artist’s enduring influence.
Fela’s posthumous recognition by the Recording Academy underscores the global relevance of his work and the power of Afrobeat as a force for social commentary and artistic expression.
The Grammy Hall of Fame induction comes as renewed global interest in African music continues to soar, further cementing Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s legacy as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
