Fela Kuti Receives Historic Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; Rite Foods’ Fearless Energy Drink Honors Icon
By The People’s Voice Nigeria News
Rite Foods Limited has congratulated legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti on his posthumous recognition with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, describing the honour as a global validation of the icon’s fearless legacy and enduring cultural impact.
The award, conferred by the Recording Academy in January 2026, was presented at the Special Merit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles ahead of the 68th Grammy Awards. With the recognition, Fela became the first African artist to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating artists whose creative contributions have had a lasting influence on music and society.
Rite Foods noted that the honour resonates strongly with its Fearless Energy Drink brand, which in 2021 became the first corporate brand to confer a posthumous award on Fela. The recognition was presented during the Felabration festival at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos, acknowledging Fela’s audacity, originality, and uncompromising voice.
The company said the Grammy recognition further reinforces Fela’s status as a global cultural icon whose music transcended entertainment to challenge injustice, inspire social consciousness, and promote African pride.
Commenting on the award, the Managing Director of Rite Foods Limited, Seleem Adegunwa, described the recognition as a fitting tribute to Fela’s fearless spirit.
“Fela Anikulapo Kuti embodied fearlessness in its purest form, using his music to challenge injustice, awaken consciousness, and inspire pride in African identity,” Adegunwa said.
“That same fearless energy is what our brand stands for, and we are proud to have been the first to formally honour his legacy posthumously. This Grammy recognition further cements his place among the world’s greatest musical legends.”
The Grammy honour has continued to attract tributes from leaders and institutions across Nigeria and beyond. In a congratulatory message to the Kuti family, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described Fela as “a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.”
Rite Foods also highlighted its continued celebration of Fela’s legacy through Fearless Energy Drink’s sponsorship of Felabration, including the 2025 edition themed “Shakara, No Fear.” According to the company, the brand used the platform to engage young people through creative activations, music, and cultural expressions that reflect Fela’s fearless ethos.
As global attention focuses on Fela’s historic Grammy recognition, Rite Foods and its Fearless Energy Drink brand say they remain committed to celebrating boldness, authenticity, and voices that inspire positive change.
