PRESIDENT TINUBU REACTS TO FELA’S GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOR
Abuja, Nigeria, February 3, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to the legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, following his posthumous recognition with the Recording Academy of America’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Describing the honour as a historic moment for Nigeria and Africa, President Tinubu said the world of music has rightly celebrated a giant whose life and art reshaped global culture.
“Fela Anikulapo Kuti was more than a musician,” the President noted. “He was a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force who confronted injustice with sound, spirit, and unyielding courage.”
President Tinubu подчеркed that Fela’s music went beyond entertainment, serving as a powerful instrument of social consciousness and resistance. His courage, creativity, and conviction, he said, defined a generation and continue to inspire millions across the world.
Invoking cultural symbolism, the President reflected on Fela’s enduring legacy, stating that in the richness of Yoruba mythology, Fela has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa—eternal in influence and spirit.
The President hailed the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a profound affirmation of Fela’s lasting global impact, noting that the late icon blazed an unprecedented trail by becoming the first African to receive the honour, even in death.
“Fela Kuti defined Afrobeat,” President Tinubu said. “His sound, his message, and his defiance live on in generations of Nigerian musicians and resonate clearly in Afrobeats and contemporary global music today.”
President Tinubu concluded by celebrating Fela’s foundational role in positioning African music on the world stage, affirming that Nigeria remains proud of a son whose voice still speaks, whose rhythm still moves the world, and whose legacy remains unbroken.
