Fela makes history as first African Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee

By Adegboyega Adeleye

Nigerian Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has been named the first African artist inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, underscoring his enduring influence on the global evolution of music.

By blending West African musical traditions with American funk and jazz, Fela will be honoured in the early influence category this year, alongside Queen Latifah, rapper MC Lyte, country rocker Gram Parsons, and Cuban singer Celia Cruz.

In February, he was also posthumously honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in Los Angeles.

Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu will also be honoured in the ‘Performance category’ alongside the Staten Island hip-hop pioneers Wu-Tang Clan, R&B powerhouse Luther Vandross, and the chart-topping drummer-turned-frontman Phil Collins.

The 2026 inductees were announced during the annual Hall of Fame reveal segment on American Idol by judge Lionel Richie and host Ryan Seacrest.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame serves as both a museum and an honorary institution, celebrating the most influential figures in popular music — spanning rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and soul.

Over 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals voted to decide the honorees.

The induction ceremony will be held on 14 November at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

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