Fela Kuti, Sade Adu Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Fela Kuti and Sade Adu have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, honoured for their enduring influence on the global evolution of music.

The 2026 inductees were announced during the annual hall of fame reveal segment on American Idol by judge Lionel Richie and host Ryan Seacrest.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame serves as both a museum and an honorary institution, celebrating the most influential figures in popular music — spanning rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and soul.

Fela, the late Nigerian singer widely recognised as the pioneer of Afrobeat, was inducted 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 February, he was also posthumously honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

Adu, the Nigerian-British singer, was inducted into the ‘Performer Category’. Known for her smooth contralto voice and timeless hits such as ‘Smooth Operator’ and ‘The Sweetest Taboo,’ the 67-year-old Grammy-winning singer remains one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary soul and pop.

In all, 18 artistes made the cut across four categories.

Performer Category:

• Phil Collins
• Billy Idol
• Iron Maiden
• Joy Division/New Order
• Oasis
• Sade Adu
• Luther Vandross
• Wu-Tang Clan

Early Influence Award:

• Celia Cruz
• Fela Kuti
• Queen Latifah
• MC Lyte
• Gram Parsons

Musical Excellence Award:

• Linda Creed
• Arif Mardin
• Jimmy Miller
• Rick Rubin

Ahmet Ertegun Award:

• Ed Sullivan

To be eligible for induction, artistes must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years ago.

The 2026 inductees were chosen by a vote of more than 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals.

The official induction ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will be streamed on ABC and Disney+ in December.