President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti following his posthumous recognition with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, describing the late music icon as a fearless advocate for justice whose influence continues to transcend generations.
Fela was honoured on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards ceremony held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, on the eve of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
With the honour, Fela became the first African artist to receive the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been presented since 1963 to global music icons, including Bing Crosby. The award recognises performers who have made outstanding artistic contributions to the recording field over their lifetimes.
In a statement issued on Sunday, President Tinubu said the recognition affirms Fela’s enduring impact on music, culture, and the global fight for social justice.
The President described Fela as more than an entertainer, portraying him as a revolutionary whose artistry challenged oppression and reshaped the global music landscape.
“The world of music has honoured a giant: Fela Anikulapo Kuti. 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 unyielding conviction defined an era and continue to inspire generations across the world.
According to the President, the Afrobeat legend has attained immortality through the power of his cultural legacy.
“In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal. Fela lives,” Tinubu added.
The late musician, who died in 1997 at the age of 58, was celebrated posthumously for his enduring cultural, political, and musical legacy. Other recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony included Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, and Whitney Houston, who was also honoured posthumously.
The award was accepted on Fela’s behalf by his children, Femi Kuti, Yeni Kuti, and Kunle Kuti, in the presence of family members, friends, and leading figures from the global music industry.
During the presentation, Fela was described as a “producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw, and the father of Afrobeat.”
In his acceptance speech, Femi Kuti expressed gratitude to the Recording Academy, saying:
“Thank you for bringing our father here. It’s so important for us, it’s so important for Africa, it’s so important for world peace and the struggle.”
The recognition further cements Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s status as one of Africa’s most influential cultural figures whose music and message continue to resonate globally.
