Article Contributed by Champagne House Media
Published on January 27, 2026
Photo: Courtesy of The Paramount
Los Angeles will host the only live band event honoring Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at The Paramount. Taking place after The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony, Duain Richmond (star of the Broadway show FELA!) and LA’s quintessential multi-cultural ensemble The Neighborhood Orchestra will join forces to honor the life, legacy, and enduring impact of Fela Kuti, as he becomes the first African musician to receive the prestigious GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sierra Leone-born, Los Angeles-based artist Duain Richmond remains one of the most critically respected voices carrying on Fela’s legacy with musical authority and deep reverence for historical lineage. In 2012, he played the role of Fela on Broadway and continued on subsequent touring productions, as well as more recent revivals at Olney Theater Center near Washington, D.C. in 2023 and Southwest Arts Center in Atlanta, GA in 2024. His portrayal has been described as “exhilarating” by The Washington Post, and his journey inhabiting the role of such a prolific cultural icon was profiled by OkayAfrica.
The Neighborhood Orchestra sets the stage as the core ensemble for the production, shining as one of the most eclectic and revered acts in the Los Angeles music scene. With an ethos dedicated to community activations and accessible shows for all ages and walks of life, the global-minded group has built a reputation as cultural torchbearers in their community, with collaborations that have included actress Annie Gonzales (Jenni, Flamin’ Hot, Relationship Goals), underground hip-hop legend Murs, multi-platinum producer Kosine, and more.
The performance will also feature very special guests and a DJ set by MEKA!
The event carries resonance in Los Angeles as the city played a critical role as the origin point of afrobeat music. Los Angeles native, Sandra Izadore, met Fela Kuti while his group Koola Lobitos performed at the NAACP Garden Party at the Ambassador Hotel in 1969. Sandra, a Black Panther and black rights activist, opened Fela’s eyes to key figures in politics and activism such as Malcom X, Angela Davis, Huey Newton, and more and awakened his conscious mind to embrace blackism and speak out against political corruption and oppression in his home of Lagos, Nigeria. He would come to cultivate afrobeat and ignite a movement around the world that is more active than ever using this music as a vehicle to speak out against social injustices and oppression. Today, afrobeat bands have formed all around the globe carrying out his message to address issues in their respective parts of the world.
Beyond being the architect of afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo Kuti stands as one of the twentieth century’s most uncompromising political artists. Blending traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife, he created a sound built on hypnotic groove and fearless protest—using music as a direct challenge to colonialism, military rule, and corruption in Nigeria. Across a vast catalog and decades of work, his influence has shaped the relationship between art and activism, leaving a blueprint that continues to guide musicians and critical thinkers worldwide.
Event Details
Fela Kuti GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award Tribute
Saturday, January 31, 2026
The Paramount
2708 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Doors: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:30 pm
Tickets: $25 | Free to Recording Academy members
For tickets and more information, please visit HERE.
