President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid a glowing tribute to the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, following his posthumous recognition with the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, popularly known as the Grammy Awards.
In a tribute personally issued in Abuja on Tuesday, President Tinubu described Fela as a towering global figure whose influence transcended music, culture and generations, noting that the world had rightly honoured “a giant.”
According to the President, Fela was far more than an entertainer, portraying him as a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom and a revolutionary force whose music boldly confronted injustice and oppression.
“Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was not just a musician; he was a movement,” Tinubu said. “Through his sound and lyrics, he challenged authority, awakened consciousness and reshaped global music. His legacy remains timeless and his influence continues to resonate across continents.”
President Tinubu added that the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was a fitting recognition of Fela’s immense contribution to global culture and his enduring impact on generations of musicians, activists and thinkers.
Also reacting to the honour, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the award as a well-deserved recognition for an enduring global icon. Atiku said Fela’s courage, creativity and commitment to truth set him apart as one of Africa’s most influential cultural ambassadors.
“Fela used his art to speak truth to power and to give voice to the voiceless,” Atiku said. “This global recognition affirms his place in history as a cultural force whose message remains relevant even today.”
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who died in 1997, is widely regarded as the founder of Afrobeat, a genre that blends traditional African rhythms with jazz, funk and highlife, often infused with politically charged lyrics. His music and activism made him a symbol of resistance and cultural pride, earning him global acclaim long after his passing.
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. Fela’s inclusion among its recipients further cements his status as one of the most influential musicians to emerge from Africa.
