President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti following his posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy of America.
In a statement released by the Presidency, Tinubu described Fela as “more than a musician,” portraying him as a fearless advocate for the masses, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary whose music challenged injustice and reshaped global sounds.
The President said Fela’s courage, creativity, and unwavering conviction defined an era and continue to inspire people across the world.
Drawing from Yoruba mythology, Tinubu added that Fela has transcended to a higher spiritual realm as an Orisa, making his legacy timeless and 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 the prestigious honor.
Fela Kuti, the pioneer of Afrobeat, remains a major influence on generations of Nigerian and global musicians, with elements of his sound evident in Afrobeats and other contemporary genres.
“Fela lives,” President Tinubu
