November 07, (THEWILL) – He may be late, but the legacy of Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, which still speaks till date keeps fetching him accolades and recognition both at home and abroad. About a week ago, Fearless Energy drink honoured him with a posthumous award as Africa’s foremost talent with positive energy, a creative genius, intentionally different and a premium quality brand considered most deserving of the Fearless Man of Africa award.
The award formed part of this year’s edition of the week-long Felabration event, which was held in October with the theme, Viva Nigeria, Viva Africa. The award was aimed at celebrating Fela’s musical prowess. It was also hinged on the concept of courageous people in all spheres of life, including music where he has been selected as Africa’s Most Fearless man, in ideas, performance, courage and leadership and whose style of music continues to influence talents all over the world. Through his music, Fela created a cultural crossroad that other parts of the world could connect with against tyranny and for a better society. These and many more formed the background to the award for the global icon.
The Founder of Felabration, Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, who is Fela’s eldest daughter, and her younger brother, Kunle Anikulapo-Kuti, received the award on behalf of the family.
Fela was also honoured with a blue plaque in Shepherd’s Bush, London by English Heritage, a charity organisation that manages historic monuments. The honorary blue plaque was mounted on the 12 Stanlake Road residence at Shepherd’s Bush, a district of West London, where Fela first lived when he arrived in the United Kingdom to study music. The plaque reads, “Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938-1997), singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and Nigerian activist, lived in this house as a student in 1958 to study Music at the Trinity College of Music rather than Medicine which he left Nigeria for.”
With the blue plaque, the late singer joins other notable artistes who have received such honour, such as the late Jamaican singer, Bob Marley.
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