Grammy-nominated Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti has described the posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award given to his father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, as global recognition of a life dedicated to confronting dictatorship, corruption and injustice in Nigeria and across Africa.
‘It’s Hard to Explain How Frightening That Era Was’
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Friday, Femi said the honour carries deep emotional and historical weight, especially for those who lived through Nigeria’s years of military rule that shaped Fela’s music and activism.
“Everybody is very happy. We’re excited,” Femi said from Los Angeles. “Unless you were alive in the 1970s, it’s very hard to explain what my father did — confronting military dictatorship at a time when people were terrified.”
Remembering State Violence and Personal Loss
Femi recalled the repeated attacks on Fela and the devastating impact on their family, including the infamous 1977 military raid on Kalakuta Republic.
“It was raid after raid. The burning of Kalakuta. His mother being thrown out of the window — she later died from the injuries,” he said. “As children, we never knew when he would be arrested or released. It was arrest after arrest.”
Music as Resistance
According to Femi, Fela’s Afrobeat sound evolved into a political weapon shaped by Nigeria’s turbulent history.
“You have to understand how his music developed,” he said. “From the 1960s to songs like Lady and Shakara, and then he went fully political. He confronted regime after regime. Fela truly lived a life.”
Rejecting Political Misrepresentation
Femi strongly dismissed claims linking him or his family to political figures his father openly opposed.
“When people say I supported Buhari or campaigned for Tinubu, that lie hurts me,” he said. “As Fela’s son, it’s impossible for us to support any government that is not for the people — especially those who beat, arrested or jailed him.”
A Global Legacy Preserved
Femi said the Grammy honour reflects decades of work by the Kuti family and the global Afrobeat movement to keep Fela’s message alive.
“My sister, my brother Seun, my son Made — the whole family — we’ve all done our bit,” he said. “Musicians play his music, scholars study it, and today’s Afrobeat artists are inspired by him. His music is sampled worldwide.”
“To top it with the Grammys — one of the biggest awards in the world — what more can we want?” he added. “But this is not just for the family. Fela was a father to many. That’s why people say our father.”
Nigeria’s Unfinished Struggle
Reflecting on Nigeria’s stalled development, Femi lamented that many of the problems his father protested decades ago remain unresolved.
“Nigeria should be the envy of the world,” he said. “Our leaders see how electricity, railways and infrastructure work abroad, but they can’t replicate it at home. It’s shameful that building one kilometre of road can take years.”
On Comparing Fela to Modern Afrobeats Stars
Femi dismissed debates comparing Fela’s legacy with contemporary Afrobeats artists.
“Fela is our father. He should stand in a category of his own,” he said. “Wizkid is like a son to me. Seun is my brother. That comparison should never have happened.”
A Warning to Young Nigerians
Femi urged young Nigerians to focus on nation-building rather than divisive debates.
“If young people don’t take the baton and demand good governance, we are in serious trouble,” he warned. “Fela spoke, he’s gone. It’s 29 years now, and we are still talking about the same problems.”
He concluded:
“I’ve been making music for over 40 years, and 90 per cent of my songs are political. How long will we keep talking about corruption, kidnapping and poverty? When will Nigeria finally come together to build a nation?”
