President Bola Tinubu has hailed the global recognition bestowed on the legendary musician and cultural icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, following his posthumous conferment of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy of the United States.
According to the President, the honour affirms Fela’s towering place in world history as the first African to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a milestone that underscores Africa’s profound and enduring contribution to global culture.
“Today, the world of music has rightly honoured a giant,” President Tinubu said. “Fela Anikulapo Kuti was more than a musician; he was a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose art confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.”
The President noted that Fela’s courage, creativity, and unwavering conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire artists and activists across continents.
“Through his music and message, Fela challenged power, gave voice to the oppressed, and insisted on dignity and truth. In the rich imagination of Yoruba cosmology, such a spirit does not die; it transcends. Fela has ascended to a higher plane—an Orisa—eternal in influence and presence.”
Tinubu described the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a fitting global affirmation of Fela’s enduring impact and his foundational role in shaping modern music.
“Fela defined Afrobeat. His sound, style, and spirit echo powerfully through generations of Nigerian musicians and resonate across Afrobeats and global popular music today. His legacy is unmistakable, indelible, and alive.”
The President described Fela Anikulapo Kuti as a cultural pathfinder whose life and work will continue to inspire the world adding that
“Fela lives.”
