President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, describing him as a bold voice of the masses whose music challenged oppression and transformed the global music landscape.
The tribute, released on Sunday, followed Fela’s posthumous recognition with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy of America, making him the first African to receive the prestigious honour.
“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,” Tinubu said in a statement personally signed by him.
The president said Fela’s bravery, originality and strong convictions defined an era and continue to resonate across generations worldwide.
According to Tinubu, the Grammy recognition is a confirmation of Fela’s lasting global relevance and his pioneering role in placing African music at the centre of modern sound.
“Fela Kuti has blazed the trail with the Recording Academy of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African to receive this honour, though posthumously.
“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,” he stated.
Drawing from Yoruba cultural and spiritual traditions, the president portrayed Fela’s legacy as timeless.
“In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal,” Tinubu said.
He also highlighted Fela’s role in shaping and popularising Afrobeat, noting that the genre remains central to contemporary African music and its global appeal.
“He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence in generations of Nigerian musicians and in Afrobeats and beyond.
“Fela lives,” the president added.
Fela officially became the first African recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday, February 1, during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The music icon, who passed away in 1997, is widely credited with revolutionising African music through Afrobeat — a powerful blend of Yoruba rhythms, jazz, funk and highlife.
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is among the Recording Academy’s highest honours, reserved for artists whose work has had a profound and lasting impact on the music industry and global culture.
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