In a heartfelt statement posted on Facebook by Bayo Onanuga on Sunday evening, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated the posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award received by the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, affirming the musician’s lasting impact on global music and culture.
“The world of music has honoured a giant: Fela Anikulapo Kuti,” President Tinubu expressed, recognizing Fela not just as a musician but as “a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.”
He continued, “His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world. In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal.”
Fela Kuti made history by becoming the first African to receive the Recording Academy of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, albeit posthumously. This accolade underscores his enduring global influence and the foundational role he has played in the evolution of African music.
“He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence in generations of Nigerian musicians and in Afrobeats and beyond,” President Tinubu noted, reiterating the importance of Fela’s legacy in contemporary music.
In closing his statement, President Tinubu proclaimed, “Fela lives,” encapsulating the enduring spirit of the iconic musician whose work continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
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