President Bol Tinubu has described the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, as a fearless voice whose music challenged injustice and left a lasting mark on global sound, following the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award conferred on the artist.
The President’s tribute was contained in a State House statement issued on Sunday, reacting to the recognition by the Recording Academy of America, which named Fela the first African recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, given posthumously.
“Fela was more than a musician. He was a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound,” Tinubu said.
He noted that Fela’s courage, creativity and conviction shaped a generation and continue to inspire audiences across the world, adding that, in Yoruba belief, the Afrobeat legend has “transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa” and is now eternal.
The President said the Grammy honour affirms Fela’s lasting global influence and his central role in shaping Africa’s impact on modern music, stressing that the late singer defined Afrobeat and inspired generations of Nigerian musicians, as well as the broader Afrobeats movement.
“Fela lives,” Tinubu declared.
