Some artists go beyond making music to shaping society, and Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti was one of those rare figures who used his art to challenge power and inspire change.
According to semafor, more than a musician, Fela was a political force, a philosopher of sound, and one of the most important African voices of the 20th century. His enduring relevance lies not only in what he said, but in how he said it — through rhythm, consistency, and fearless truth-telling.
This is why the Nigerian star, who created the original Afrobeat sound, posthumously received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys this year, almost three decades after his death at the age of 58. It was long overdue.
In our current era, there is often plenty of talk about Africa benefiting from its “soft power,” but Fela fused his sound and struggle to show us that culture is not soft — it is powerful. As long as music is used to question authority, affirm dignity, and imagine freedom, Fela will remain not just relevant, but essential.
The simple truth is that “Fela lives” and remains immortal because of songs like Zombie (challenging the brutality of military authoritarianism); Shuffering and Shmiling (the daily urban African struggle), and Beasts of No Nation (calling out the inequities of the Western multilateral system) are all still relevant today and will be tomorrow. The Grammy recognition was timely and he is the first African to be so honored.
