- Tinubu praised Fela Kuti after his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
- He described Fela as a fearless voice and cultural revolutionary.
- The award makes Fela the first African to receive the honour.
- Tinubu said Fela’s legacy will remain eternal across generations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti following his posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, describing the late musician as a towering figure whose influence went far beyond music.
President Tinubu made the remarks in a personal tribute issued on Sunday to celebrate Fela’s recognition by the Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards.
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According to the President, the global honour was a fitting recognition for a man whose voice shaped generations and challenged injustice through music.
“The world has honoured a giant,” Tinubu said.
He described Fela as more than just a musician, portraying him as a fearless defender of the oppressed, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary whose sound reshaped global music.
“His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world,” the President stated.
Tinubu also drew from Yoruba spiritual belief to describe Fela’s lasting legacy, saying the Afrobeat pioneer had transcended mortality.
“In the Yoruba worldview, Fela has ascended to a higher spiritual plane. He has become eternal,” he said.
The President noted that the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award marked a historic milestone, as Fela Anikulapo Kuti became the first African to receive the honour, even though it was awarded posthumously.
He added that the recognition reaffirmed Fela’s place as one of Africa’s greatest cultural exports and one of the most influential musicians in world history.
