Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was posthumously honoured with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on January 31, 2026.

This historic recognition makes him the first African artist to receive the award from the Recording Academy since its inception in 1963.

The ceremony took place in Los Angeles, with Fela’s children accepting the honour on his behalf.

The award recognised Fela’s groundbreaking contributions to world music, fusing West African highlife with American jazz and funk to create the iconic Afrobeat sound.

His legacy continues to inspire artists globally, cementing his place in music history.

Fela’s children, Yeni, Kunle, Shalewa, and Femi Kuti, accepted the award, with Yeni expressing gratitude and Femi thanking those promoting Afrobeat worldwide.

Yeni said, “‘I’m sure my father is smiling down on us. I want to acknowledge my siblings who couldn’t be here tonight, Motunrayo and Seun, and my nephew who is carrying Afrobeat to another level, Made.”

Femi added, “I would like to thank all the people carrying Afrobeat that are in this place tonight. DJs, the press, our label Partisan, our lawyers, fans all over the world. Thank you for bringing our father here, it’s so important for Africa. It’s so important for world peace and struggle”.

The honour places Fela alongside music legends like Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, and Cher and Paul Simon.

Famous Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has responded to her colleague, Kunle Afolayan’s comments on profit making strategies and N2 billion cinema gross.

Afolayan had spoken at the recent Lagos Business of Film summit, describing the relentless cycle of content creation required for modern film promotion as “unsustainable.”

While addressing his colleagues on his approach to filmmaking and profitability, the filmmaker during the launching of his movie ‘Anikulapo’, said “There is no competition between us. I don’t just want N1 billion or N2 billion in the cinema that I won’t be able to personally receive N10 million from.”

Afolayan also took a swipe at Funke, saying, “I want to make a film if you guarantee that I do not have to dance to sell that film. Are there other ways? We need to come up with other strategies. How do we sell without exhausting ourselves?

“I do not know how Funke and the likes of them are doing it – creating all of those skits, changing costumes every day.

“I cannot do it. But we have stories we have been working on for more than four years, and we are willing to do,” he added.

However, reacting in a series of Instagram stories, Akindele presented a different perspective, urging filmmakers to innovate rather than withdraw.

She argued that creators can and should develop their own promotional models.

Akindele maintained that she is committed to her own promotional style, stating she is “believing in Gods plan for me”.

She emphasised that the industry holds limitless opportunities, and success does not require following a single blueprint.

“I’m not the one hindering your progress. Karin ka po, yiye ni n ye ni,” she wrote in a mixture of Yorùbá and English.

“If you can’t beat them or join them, create your own path. No allow jealousy burn you. The sky is so big for everybody to fly. Eyin Werey jojo!!!

“Go ahead and create alternative promotion or marketing strategies for promoting your business, or hire a company to handle it.

“You can do it! The opportunities are endless, and everyone has their own path. I’m focused on mine, and I have faith in God’s plan for me.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of actress Angela Okorie in Suleja Correctional Centre over alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Wednesday after Angela was arraigned on a three count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force. The actress pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Her counsel, Alex Ejesieme, applied for bail, but the court declined and ordered that she be remanded pending the hearing of her formal bail application on January 30.

According to the charge, Angela allegedly conspired with one Ifeoma Mbonu, who is currently at large, to cyberstalk and defame fellow actress Mercy Johnson through posts on Instagram and TikTok.

The police alleged that the offences were committed in 2024 and contravened provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.

Part of the petition written by Mercy Johnson’s lawyer accused Okorie of posting the following statement online:

“Blood sucking demon no see blood suck again, E say na slimming tea. Except there’s no God, MJ go and beg people you chop their destinies and destroyed their hornes else no peace for the wicked!!! Gospel songs won’t save you. Your heart Is Dark!!!”

The petition stated that the publication was intended to cause serious reputational damage and emotional distress. It added that the post was meant to “incite hatred, provoke unrest among the public and further harass and emotionally traumatize our client.”

Prosecuting counsel Victor Okoye asked the court to remand Angela and fix a date for trial. He argued that the administrative bail earlier granted to the actress had lapsed following her arraignment.

Ejesieme told the court that the actress was not given enough time to prepare for her defence, adding that she was served the charge shortly before proceedings began. He also said she was not previously informed about the case before being brought from Lagos to Abuja.

Justice Nwite held that the court could not entertain an oral bail application and ordered both parties to file and exchange all necessary documents within 24 hours. He then ordered that Angela be remanded in Suleja Prison pending the bail hearing.

Angela was arrested on Tuesday by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Centre at her residence in Lagos. She was detained overnight at the Yaba Police Station before being taken to Abuja for arraignment.

The case follows a long running public dispute between Angela and Mercy Johnson, which has played out on social media over the years with several exchanges and allegations.

Neither Angela nor Mercy has issued an official statement since the court proceedings.