African music is finally receiving a level of global recognition that reflects its true influence, and this year’s Grammy nominations mark a powerful moment in that ongoing journey. Nigerian artists once again feature prominently on the nomination list, reinforcing the global reach of Afrobeats and contemporary African sounds. Beyond the nominations, the Recording Academy’s decision to honour Fela Anikulapo Kuti stands out as a long overdue acknowledgement of a man whose work reshaped not just African music, but global sound itself.
Afrobeats did not emerge overnight. Its global success today is built on decades of experimentation, resistance, and cultural expression by African musicians who laid the groundwork long before streaming platforms existed. Artists like Fela Kuti were not chasing global validation; they were creating music rooted in African realities, politics, rhythm, and spirituality. Yet those same elements have travelled across borders, influencing generations of musicians worldwide.
Fela’s Afrobeat was revolutionary because it fused traditional African rhythms, jazz, funk, highlife, and politically charged lyricism into something entirely new. That innovation echoed far beyond Nigeria. His music influenced artists in Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean, and helped position African rhythm as a driving force rather than a background reference. Honouring Fela at the Grammys is not just about celebrating a legacy; it is an admission that global music history cannot be told without Africa at its centre.
African music has long shaped global genres, often without receiving proper credit. Rap music, for example, is widely understood as a product of African American culture in the United States, and rightly so. But some of its foundational ideas trace much further back to Africa itself. Yoruba ewi, a traditional form of spoken word poetry, uses rhythm, repetition, praise, social commentary, and improvisation, core elements that mirror modern rap and spoken word performance. The call and response structure found across African musical traditions is another direct influence, forming the backbone of audience engagement in hip hop and other contemporary genres.
African drums and indigenous rhythms have also been sampled extensively by hip hop, jazz, funk, and electronic artists over the years. These sounds have shaped global music aesthetics, from beat patterns to performance styles, yet Africa’s role has often been treated as inspiration rather than authorship. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern where African contributions are absorbed into global culture while recognition arrives slowly, if at all.
The growing presence of Nigerian artists on the Grammy nomination list signals a shift. Afrobeats is no longer positioned as a fringe or novelty genre; it is shaping pop music worldwide. Artists from Nigeria and across Africa are influencing how global hits are structured, produced, and performed. The sound of modern pop is increasingly African in rhythm, cadence, and energy.
Fela Kuti’s recognition this year is therefore symbolic. It bridges generations, connecting today’s Afrobeats success to the pioneers who made it possible. It also challenges the global music industry to rethink whose stories are told, whose innovations are celebrated, and whose legacies are preserved.
Africa has always been a creative engine for global music. What is changing now is visibility. Giving African music centre stage is not an act of charity or trend-following; it is historical correction. Honouring Fela Kuti while celebrating contemporary Nigerian artists at the Grammys is a step in the right direction—one that acknowledges Africa not just as a source of influence, but as a rightful leader in shaping the sound of the world.
Culture Beyond the Mainstream 