Fela Gets His Crown, But the ‘Big 3’ Fall: Tinubu Hails Abami Eda as Wizkid and Davido Crash Out at 2026 Grammys

LOS ANGELES — It was a tale of two generations for Nigeria at the 68th Grammy Awards this weekend.

While the spirit of the “Abami Eda,” Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, finally received the ultimate global validation with a Lifetime Achievement Award, the current heavyweights of Afrobeats—Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy—watched from the sidelines as South Africa’s Tyla snatched the golden gramophone for the second time.

The contrast was stark: The ancestor triumphed, but the heirs returned home empty-handed.

The King is Finally Crowned

On Saturday night, the Recording Academy corrected a decades-long oversight by bestowing the Lifetime Achievement Award on Fela Kuti. He became the first African to receive this honor, joining legends like Whitney Houston and Cher in the 2026 class.

His children—Femi, Yeni, and Kunle Kuti—accepted the award in Los Angeles. “He was not just a musician; he was a prophet,” Femi Kuti declared on stage. “This award proves that while they may have jailed the man, they could never jail the music.”

Tinubu: “Fela is an Orisa”

Back in Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wasted no time in capitalizing on the historic moment. In a personally signed statement titled “Fela Lives,” the President elevated the musician from a national hero to a deity.

“In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal,” Tinubu wrote on Sunday.
The President, who was a political contemporary of Fela during the turbulent military era, described him as a “fearless voice” who used his saxophone to fight the very battles Nigeria still wages today. “He defined Afrobeat, and his influence is the foundation upon which today’s stars stand,” Tinubu added.

The “Big 3” Shutout

However, the celebratory mood soured on Sunday night during the main ceremony. Despite a record number of nominations for Nigerian artists, the competitive categories delivered a shock:

• Best African Music Performance: For the second time since the category’s creation, South Africa’s Tyla defeated the Nigerian contingent. Her hit “Push 2 Start” beat out Davido’s “With You,” Burna Boy’s “Love,” and the Wizkid-Ayra Starr collaboration “Gimme Dat.”
• Global Music Album: Burna Boy’s “No Sign of Weakness” also lost to the Brazilian legends Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia.

The Legacy Debate Reignites

The events of the weekend have poured fresh fuel on the fire of the “Greatest of All Time” debate. While Wizkid and Burna Boy have their own Grammys, Fela’s Lifetime Achievement Award places him in a stratosphere that transcends yearly charts.

Critics argue that while the “New Guard” chases trends to win awards, Fela’s music forced the awards to come to him—29 years after his death. This dichotomy—the timeless power of Fela versus the commercial struggles of the modern stars—echoes the analysis in our previous feature: Fela Kuti vs Wizkid: The Greatest Nigerian Artist Debate and Legacy.

As the Nigerian delegation departs Los Angeles, the message from the Recording Academy is clear: The King of Afrobeat sits alone on the throne, while the Princes still have work to do.