After Fela Anikulapo Kuti was posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy of America, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid tribute to the late Afrobeat pioneer.
The president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, released a statement praising Fela, calling him “more than a musician,” a revolutionary whose music challenged injustice and transformed the world’s musical landscape, and an unafraid spokesperson for the people.
According to the president, Fela’s bravery, originality, and conviction inspired a generation and are an inspiration to people all across the globe.
He went on to say that Fela’s immortal legacy is rooted in Yoruba mythology, where he has ascended to the level of an Orisa.
As the first African to win this esteemed accolade, President Obama praised Fela’s “foundational role in the evolution of modern music” and his “enduring global influence” in accepting the award.
Fela Kuti, the man whose music was the foundation of Afrobeat, has left an indelible mark on the genre and on the careers of countless musicians from Nigeria and around the world.
Fela lives, President Tinubu said.