The late Nigerian musician and Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti, has become the first African to receive a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award. Kuti was recognized almost thirty years after his death. Other recipients this year include Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon. DW’s West Africa Correspondent, Azeezat Olaoluwa, visited Kuti’s family to find out more about their father’s legacy.
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#Afrobeat #grammys #felakuti
I’m surprised he hadn’t gotten this sooner.
His music was just too novel for the 90s. An Aficionado, am icon, A LEGEND.
This is amazing! His legacy lives on 👏🏾
That’s the only Gramy 😂😂😂
It’s About Time The World Of Music Honored The Great Fela Kuti
Long overdue.
Back in the day they labelled us. "Oh,Those Fela Boys" they would say. It wasn't meant as a compliment, quite the opposite. They looked down on us but we didn't care. We were unapologetically all in on Baba Kuti. We knew he wasn't just a great musician who by happenstance lived close by. He was great, full stop. It baffled me why people weren't overly awestruck by Fela's bravery in the face of successive brutal military dictator's boots on our collective necks. Everyone fell in line, compliant. Fela said" Hey, not so fast". He paid a very heavy price to exercise his freedom of speech. Everyone else in trepidation fell silent or risk being destroyed by blood thirsty military regimes. We were a group of friends in our late teens who lived in the local area of Ikeja, Lagos. Fela's shrine and home were a stones throw away from where we all lived. We often went to the shrine where you would hear Fela and his band rehearsing. The most sumptuous melodies penetrated the air, it was the sound of beauty. An infusion of igbo cascaded right behind it.The short cut home from buying suya on Allen Avenue took me straight past Fela's front door on Gbemisolaa Street. Some evenings you would see the great man himself quietly chilin on his balcony. Downstairs the igbo sellers had trays full of perfectly rolled bazookas. For tthe initiated who knew what a welcoming place Fela's home, the Kalakuta Republic was, we would sit down in the compound downstairs and partake a little bit before heading home, red eyed and happy. Those were great scary days.
Oooweeee….I grew up listening to him. Much much much deserved….jazz and African music blend with activism❤❤❤
🎉🎉🎉🎉
Finally!!!
🫡
Why do Africans depend on American Grammy recognition,
Why can't we create African home bred recognition for out artists and musical legends like Fela, Man Di Bango, Lucky Dube, Mike Ejiagha and even Bob Marley many others
Why Not!
Never Forgotten…
Congrats on this Rare Recognition
for Fela’s Legendary Life, Career, Accomplishments. Thanks for Your Plethora of Contributions🏆🎉👏🏽
It is Olúfelá Aníkúlápò-Kútì. I call him ELÉÈNÌYÀN.
Long live Fela❤
South Africa, take note! This is first in Africa. Hehehe…
The family could have declined the award, considering Fela Kuti’s strong Pan-African ideals and his long-standing criticism of Western institutions’ influence on African art and culture.
Long overdue
❤❤❤
My question is when will Africa wake. Has Africa given Fela and the other heroes: musicians Actors freedom fighters et al the awards they deserve? Why wait for other people across the Atlantic to recognize our humanity? Wake up Africa.
Finally!
Ashé
Fela Kutu, visited Liberia,and reading and listening to his music, he's indeed, the greatest African musician primarily because on his stance on injustice, poverty and other social issues,hence, the " Life time Award"!
Seun , you are a good communicator. Thumbs up.
Fela's music 🎶🎵 lives forever
Fela ❤
…Africaman original!! Water never got enemy!!
1:51 Agama 🦎
💚🤍💚
AT LAST
RIP
You got your flowers
CREATE A WORLD WIDE AFRICAN AWARD
Make your own unique award please
Jahover all 🎶🇧🇴🇧🇿🎶🇲🇱🎶🥥🎶🥥🎶🥥🙏🏿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿❤️
Legend Fela Kuti
This brother was 1000 years ahead of his time.
FBA must be spitting feathers at this.
Well deserved. Long live the King in our hearts.
bro reading the news like he is mad about it
Well deserved… Long overdue
Too sad that we have few people very ignorant about many impactful musicians all over the world. Grammy is overrated in my humble opinion. We don't need the Grammys to recognize good music and artists
New section? Can't even title your video correctly. These are the ones who deceive themselves, thinking that Trump will give them 'Biafra'.
Wizkid say him pass am o!! That small boy
Fela Kuti’ is big legenda
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
❤❤❤
Fela was an icon. Grew up listening to his music because my dad loved his music. "Na double wahala for dead body and the owner of dead body". That line, I keep recall over and over.
well… the excitement of the presenter didn't match the story – more dead than Fela Kuti – LOL
Billurean World Order 🌎♾️
Fela! 🎉