Nigeria’s President Honours Fela Kuti After Historic Grammy Recognition
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has paid tribute to legendary musician and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti following his posthumous recognition at the Grammy Awards, where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award – the first African artist to be honoured in that category.
The award, presented in Los Angeles nearly three decades after Fela’s death in 1997, marks a landmark moment for African music on the global stage. It also serves as a belated acknowledgement of an artist whose work, influence, and defiance often put him at odds with Nigeria’s political establishment during his lifetime.
In a statement released a day after the ceremony, President Tinubu described Fela as far more than a musician.
“Fela was more than a musician,” the president said. “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 added that the honour underscores the lasting impact of Fela’s work beyond Nigeria’s borders, describing the Grammy recognition as validation of his global cultural legacy and his role in shaping modern music from Africa.
A Sound That Changed Music
In the 1970s, Fela pioneered Afrobeat – a bold fusion of jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional African rhythms – creating a sound that was as politically charged as it was musically innovative. Afrobeat later laid the foundation for Afrobeats, the contemporary genre that has propelled Nigerian and African artists to international prominence by blending African rhythms with modern pop influences.
Members of the Kuti family were present at the Grammy ceremony to receive the award, including Femi Kuti, Fela’s eldest son and a renowned musician in his own right. Nigerian global superstar Davido was also spotted with the family in Los Angeles, reflecting the link between Fela’s legacy and the current Afrobeats movement.
Speaking from Lagos, Fela’s grandson, Made Kuti – himself a Grammy nominee in 2022 – said the recognition affirmed his grandfather’s place among the world’s greatest musical innovators.
“There are very few people you can point to as true originators of a genre,” he said. “To take that level of creative risk and build something that still lives on globally is rare. He was operating at the highest professional level.”
The Grammy honour adds to a growing list of international recognitions for Fela Kuti, reinforcing his status as a cultural icon whose music, message, and influence continue to resonate across generations and continents.
