President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, following his posthumous recognition with the Recording Academy of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic first for Africa.
In a statement titled “Fela Lives: Fela’s Lifetime Achievement Award”, the President described Fela as far more than a musician, portraying him as a fearless advocate for justice whose art reshaped global music and consciousness.
“Fela was more than a musician. He was a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound,” the statement said.
President Tinubu noted that Fela’s courage, creativity and conviction defined a generation and continue to resonate across the world, decades after his death.
“His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world,” he said.
Drawing from cultural symbolism, the President said Fela’s legacy has assumed an eternal dimension.
“In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal,” the statement added.
The President described the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a powerful affirmation of Fela’s lasting global influence and the pivotal role he played in projecting Africa’s voice through music.
“The award is an affirmation of his enduring global influence and the foundational role he has played in the evolution and impact of Africa on modern music,” Tinubu said.
He also highlighted Fela’s defining contribution to the creation of Afrobeat, noting that his imprint remains evident across generations of Nigerian musicians and in contemporary Afrobeats and global music scenes.
“He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence in generations of Nigerian musicians and in Afrobeats and beyond,” the statement said.
Concluding the tribute, President Tinubu declared simply: “Fela lives.”
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