‘He has risen to a higher plane as an Orisa’ — Tinubu hails Fela’s Grammy lifetime honour

01 Feb 2026, 18:54 by Pelumi Bolawa · TheCable Lifestyle

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the late music legend Fela Kuti, hailing him as a “philosopher of freedom” and a fearless champion of the people.

The statement followed the posthumous recognition of a Grammy lifetime achievement award to the Afrobeat pioneer by the Recording Academy at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

The prestigious accolade was accepted on Saturday by Fela’s children — Femi, Yeni, and Kunle.

In his statement, Tinubu reflected on Fela’s impact, noting that he was far more than a musician.

He described Fela’s life as a beacon of “courage, creativity, and conviction,” inspiring not only his own generation but also continuing to resonate across the world today.

In a poignant reference to Yoruba tradition, Tinubu added, “he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa. He is now eternal”.

The president emphasised the historic significance of the award, pointing out that Fela is the first African ever 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 stated that the recognition reinforces Africa’s foundational and growing influence 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.”

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