Fela Kuti and Sade Adu have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the institution’s 2026 class. The announcement was made during the annual reveal segment on American Idol by judge Lionel Richie and host Ryan Seacrest.
Fela Kuti, the late Nigerian pioneer of Afrobeat, was honored under the Early Influence Award. By blending West African musical traditions with American funk and jazz, Kuti helped shape a genre whose impact continues to resonate worldwide decades after his death in 1997.
The induction follows his posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in February 2026, making him the first African artiste to receive that honor.
Sade Adu, the Nigerian-British singer known for her smooth contralto voice and timeless hits including “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo,” was inducted into the Performer Category. The 67-year-old Grammy-winning artiste remains one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary soul and pop.
The pair join a wide-ranging 2026 class that includes Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Luther Vandross, Wu-Tang Clan, Celia Cruz, Queen Latifah, and MC Lyte.
Established in 1983, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors artistes who have shaped the history and development of rock and roll, with eligibility opening 25 years after an artiste’s first commercial recording.