President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has hailed the late music icon Fela
Anikulapo Kuti for receiving a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the
Recording Academy of America, marking him as the first African artist to earn
this honuor, albeit posthumously. In a statement titled "FELA
LIVES," Tinubu described the accolade as a testament to Fela's profound
global impact, emphasizing how his music confronted injustice and reshaped the
world's musical landscape. The president portrayed Fela not just as a musician
but as a "fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a
revolutionary force," whose legacy continues to inspire generations.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in 1938 in
Abeokuta, Nigeria, was a pioneering multi-instrumentalist and bandleader who
invented the Afrobeat genre, blending West African rhythms with jazz, funk, and
highlife. Coming from a prominent family, his mother was a
feminist activist and his father a clergyman. Fela studied music in
London before returning to Nigeria in the 1960s. He became a vocal critic of
Nigeria's military regimes and corruption, using his music as a tool for social
commentary, which often led to arrests, beatings, and raids on his compound by
authorities.
Tinubu's tribute highlighted Fela's transcendence in Yoruba mythology, likening
him to an "Orisa" or deity, symbolizing his eternal status. The
president noted that Fela's courage, creativity, and conviction defined an era,
with his influence evident in modern Nigerian musicians and the global rise of
Afrobeats. This award affirms Fela's foundational role in elevating African
music on the international stage, where echoes of his style persist in
contemporary genres.
President Tinubu affirmed that "Fela lives," underscoring the
enduring relevance of his message and artistry. The recognition comes nearly
three decades after Fela's death in 1997 from AIDS-related complications,
serving as a reminder of how his trailblazing work continues to bridge cultures
and challenge power structures worldwide.