Femi Kuti Wins Best Artiste Award

The Afrobeat global flame is still burning hot and days after the rounding off in Nigeria of the globally acclaimed FELA!, a Broadway musical in honour of the music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the bohemian singer’s first son and Afrobeat singer Femi, has been named Best Artiste in Songlines magazine’s annual World Music Awards.

Femi won the award, thanks to his new album, Africa For Africa, winning praises for dynamic songs that railed against corruption and repression in Africa.

Femi had stepped out of the shadow of his father, the legendary Fela, with this album, Songlines said.

“This album is very angry and it really sounds like Lagos…quite rough at the edges. And the message is that Africa has to look after itself.

“Songs like Politics In Africa, Can’t Buy Me and Bad Government, all serve to underline his utter disdain for the corrupt politicians of his native Nigeria and other African nations…a theme that continues to be pertinent today with events happening across North Africa and Ivory Coast,” the magazine stated on Femi.

Nominees are selected by Songlines readers, with the final decision made by the magazine’s editors.

Femi will collect his award at the Big Chill Festival on 7 August.