President Bola Tinubu has hailed the late Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, following his posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, describing him as a revolutionary artist whose influence remains global.
In a statement released on Sunday, Tinubu said Fela was more than a musician, portraying him as a bold voice of the people who used music to confront injustice and champion freedom.
The president said Fela’s creativity and courage shaped a generation and continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.
He noted that Fela is the first African to receive the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, describing the recognition as a testament to his lasting impact on global music.
According to Tinubu, Fela not only defined Afrobeat but laid the foundation for contemporary Afrobeats and influenced musicians across generations in Nigeria and beyond.
“His legacy is timeless,” Tinubu said. “Fela lives.”
