‘He has risen to a higher plane as an Orisa,’ Tinubu hails Fela’s Grammy lifetime honour
President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, praising him as a “philosopher of freedom” and a fearless advocate for the people.
The commendation comes in the wake of Fela’s posthumous recognition with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy, presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles. The honour was accepted on Saturday by his children — Femi, Yeni, and Kunle Kuti.
In a statement, the President reflected on Fela’s far-reaching legacy, stressing that he was much more than a musician. He described Fela’s life and work as a symbol of “courage, creativity, and conviction,” noting that his influence continues to resonate globally.
Drawing from Yoruba tradition, Tinubu remarked that “he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal”.
The President highlighted the historic nature of the recognition, emphasising that Fela is the first African to receive the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
“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,” the statement reads.
“His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world. In Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal.
“Fela Kuti has blazed the trail with the Recording Academy of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African to receive this honour, though posthumously.”
Tinubu further noted that the award underscores Africa’s deep-rooted and growing impact on global music.
“The award is an affirmation of his enduring global influence and the foundational role he has played in the evolution and impact of Africa on modern music,” he added.
“He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence in generations of Nigerian musicians and in Afrobeats and beyond.”