Fela lives – Tinubu speaks on Fela Kuti Grammy lifetime achievement award

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti following his posthumous recognition by the Recording Academy of America with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

In a statement issued by the presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described Fela as “more than a musician” a fearless voice for the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.

The President noted that Fela’s courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire people worldwide.

He added that, in Yoruba mythology, Fela has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa, making his legacy eternal.

“This award is an affirmation of his enduring global influence and the foundational role he played in the evolution of modern music,” the President said, noting that Fela was the first African to receive this prestigious honour.

Fela Kuti, who defined Afrobeat, continues to influence generations of Nigerian musicians, with traces of his sound visible in Afrobeats and other global music genres.

“Fela lives,” President Tinubu concluded.