President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hailed the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti as an “eternal Orisa” following his historic posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The President’s statement, titled “Fela Lives,” follows the ceremony held on Saturday, January 31, in Los Angeles, where Fela became the first African artist to receive the prestigious honor from the Recording Academy.
The president’s tribute focused on the role that the music artist played both a cultural architect and a political revolutionary whose influence has only grown since his passing in 1997.
He further described the late music star as a “philosopher of freedom” and a “revolutionary force” who used his craft to confront injustice and military oppression.
“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 emphasised that this Grammy recognition affirms Africa’s foundational role in modern global sound, noting that Fela’s DNA is visible in every contemporary Afrobeats star today.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented during the Special Merit Award at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre the night before the main 68th Grammy ceremony. Tinubu said that the award marked a historic stand, as he was the first person to receive such in the country.
Tinubu declared that Fela’s spirit and impact remain alive, saying simply, “Fela lives.”
