Fela Kuti Named First African Solo Artist in Rock Hall

Fela Kuti, the pioneering Nigerian musician and founder of Afrobeat, has been selected for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as the first African solo artist to receive the honor in the Early Influence category. The announcement came during a broadcast of American Idol in the United States on Monday night, with host Ryan Seacrest and judge Lionel Richie revealing the 2026 class of inductees.

Kuti, who died in 1997, will be recognized alongside Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Gram Parsons, and Celia Cruz in the Early Influence category, which honors artists whose innovations shaped the genre's early development. Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu, known for her soulful hits like "Smooth Operator," was selected for the Performer category at age 67. The full class includes 18 honorees across four categories: Performer, Early Influence, Musical Excellence, and the Ahmet Ertegun Award. Other Performer inductees are Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. The Musical Excellence category features Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller, and Rick Rubin.

The selections were determined by more than 1,200 international...