President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, following his posthumous receipt of the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
In a statement signed by the president on Sunday, Tinubu described Fela Kuti as a global cultural icon whose music transcended entertainment to become a powerful instrument for social change.
He said Fela’s recognition by the Grammy Awards, which makes him the first African to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, affirms his enduring global influence and the foundational role he played in shaping Afrobeat and modern music.
President Tinubu noted that Fela’s fearless advocacy, creativity, and revolutionary spirit continue to inspire generations of Nigerian musicians and resonate across Afrobeats and other global genres.
“He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence in generations of Nigerian musicians and in Afrobeats and beyond.
“Fela lives,” the president said.
