President Tinubu honours Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti after his posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, calling him a global icon

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti following the musician’s posthumous recognition with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Also read: Grammys honour Fela Kuti with historic Lifetime Award

In a statement issued on Sunday, President Tinubu described Fela as a towering figure whose influence transcended music, culture, and generations, calling him “a giant” honoured by the world.

“His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world,” Tinubu said.

He added that in Yoruba mythology, Fela had transcended to a higher spiritual plane and become eternal.

President Tinubu highlighted that the Grammy recognition marked a historic milestone, making Fela the first African to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.

The President portrayed Fela as more than a musician, describing him as a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.

He emphasised that Fela’s influence is evident across generations of Nigerian musicians, contemporary Afrobeats, and the wider global music scene.

“Fela lives,” Tinubu declared, underlining that the musician’s ideals, sound, and cultural impact remain vibrant decades after his passing.

Also read: Barack Obama honours Fela Kuti in new podcast series

The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award honours performers whose creative contributions have outstanding artistic significance, placing Fela among an elite group of global music legends.