President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti following the legendary musician’s posthumous recognition with the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, describing him as a “fearless voice of the people” and a defining cultural figure whose music reshaped global sound and confronted injustice.
The tribute was issued in Abuja on Sunday, February 1, 2026, after Fela became the first African artist to receive the Grammy honour.
In a statement personally signed by Tinubu titled “Fela lives,” the President said Fela was more than a musician, calling him “a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.”
Tinubu said Fela’s courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire artists around the world.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938–1997), often regarded as the “King of Afrobeat,” pioneered a music genre that fused jazz, highlife, funk and traditional African rhythms with bold political commentary.
His work critiqued corruption, military oppression and social injustice in Nigeria during the 1970s and 1980s, often attracting repression from state authorities.
The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognises artists who have made “profound and lasting impact” on the music industry.
This year’s honourees include a number of global icons, but Fela’s award marks the first time an African musician has been acknowledged in this category, underscoring the expanding global influence of African music forms.
Tinubu highlighted the award’s broader cultural significance, noting that the recognition affirms Africa’s foundational role in shaping modern music and celebrates the continent’s creative contributions.
“He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence in generations of Nigerian musicians and in Afrobeats and beyond,” the President added.
For Nigeria’s cultural stakeholders and creative industries, Fela’s Grammy honour is a milestone that reflects decades of artistic influence recognised on the world stage.
Political commentators suggest that the tribute by the President not only acknowledges Fela’s artistic genius but also signals the growing global stature of Nigerian cultural exports, including Afrobeats.
Tinubu’s invocation of Yoruba cultural imagery in the tribute, describes Fela as having transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. The enduring spiritual and symbolic place Fela occupies in Nigerian cultural consciousness.
Fela’s contribution to music continues to shape creative expression across Africa and beyond. His approach to blending social commentary with rhythmic innovation has influenced generations of artists, including contemporary Afrobeats stars whose work dominates global charts and platforms.
As Fela receives global recognition decades after his passing, his legacy is being re-examined through the lens of both cultural pride and artistic achievement, highlighting the power of music to challenge systems, elevate voices and transcend borders.
President Tinubu’s tribute to Fela Anikulapo Kuti on the occasion of his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award highlights the late musician’s historic role as a cultural pioneer and champion of the people. The recognition cements Fela’s place in music history and showcases the global impact of African artistic innovation.
