President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a heartfelt tribute to the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, celebrating his posthumous recognition with the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In a statement personally signed by the President on Sunday, Tinubu described Fela as a “fearless voice of the people” whose music not only challenged injustice but also reshaped the global musical landscape. The award, presented by the Recording Academy at its 68th Annual Grammy Awards, marks a historic milestone: Fela is now the first African artist to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.
Reflecting on Fela’s enduring impact, the President said the honour affirms the musician’s lasting global influence and his foundational role in shaping African music’s contribution to the world. “His courage, creativity and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world,” Tinubu said, underscoring the artist’s profound legacy.
Tinubu also drew on Yoruba cultural imagery to emphasise Fela’s symbolic transcendence, suggesting that the late icon has achieved an “eternal” place in cultural memory. He further highlighted Fela’s role in defining Afrobeat a genre that has left a strong imprint on contemporary African music and beyond. “He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence across generations of musicians,” the President added.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who passed away in 1997, was instrumental in pioneering Afrobeat, a genre that fused traditional Nigerian rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife, while often serving as a vehicle for political expression. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates artists whose work has had significant and lasting influence on the music industry and Fela’s legacy continues to resonate worldwide decades after his death.
