Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and Nigerian-British singer Sade Adu have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.
Fela received the ‘Early Influence Award’ for blending West African traditions with funk and jazz, while Sade was inducted into the ‘Performer Category’. The announcement was made on American Idol by Lionel Richie and Ryan Seacrest. The induction ceremony will take place on November 14 in Los Angeles.
Key Points:
Fela was posthumously honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February.
Sade, 67, is known for timeless hits like ‘Smooth Operator’ and ‘The Sweetest Taboo’.
Other inductees include Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, and Luther Vandross.
The hall of fame celebrates influential figures across rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and soul.
The ceremony will be streamed on ABC and Disney+ in December.
Sources: The Cable, Vanguard