“Fela lives”, Tinubu gushes over Afrobeat legend

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, describing him as a fearless voice of the people whose music reshaped global sound and continues to inspire generations.

In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu said the world of music had honoured a giant with the Recording Academy of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, making Fela the first African to receive the prestigious honour, albeit posthumously.

The President said Fela was more than a musician, noting that he was a philosopher of freedom and a revolutionary force who used his art to confront injustice and challenge oppressive systems.

“His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world,” Tinubu said.

Drawing from Yoruba mythology, the President said Fela had transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa, adding that his legacy had become eternal.

According to Tinubu, the award affirms Fela’s enduring global influence and the foundational role he played in the evolution of modern music, particularly in projecting Africa’s cultural impact on the world stage.

He noted that Fela not only defined Afrobeat but also laid the groundwork for contemporary African music, with his influence evident in generations of Nigerian musicians as well as in Afrobeats and other global genres.

“Fela lives,” the President declared.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who died in 1997, remains one of Africa’s most influential cultural icons, renowned for blending music with activism and for his uncompromising stance against corruption, military rule and social injustice.