We Won’t Accept Centenary Award For Fela, Says Son

Femi Kuti, son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has said that the family would not accept any centenary award in his father's honour.

*Femi Kuti

Femi made the statement through a Twitter correspondence with newsmen earlier Tuesday. While stating that the family has not been officially informed about any centenary award for Fela, he noted that the Federal Government should first apologise for killing his grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and burning of Kalakuta Republic.

“We have not heard such but I can speak for myself, FG should first apologise for the killing of our grandmother and the burning of Kalakuta,” he wrote.

Asked if the family would accept the award if the government apologised for the two wrongs mentioned, Femi said he doubts if the family would accept the award.


“Like I said we have not heard anything from the Federal Government. But I doubt if the family will accept the award.”

For more than two decades Fela sang and protested against anti-people policies of the government. Starting from the 70s, Fela, was a torn in the flesh of military and civilian administrations in Nigeria.

Fela is to be awarded alongside 99 others as part of the centenary celebration according to a statement released by the Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Centenary Celebrations.

FG is honouring Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in the ‘Internationally Acclaimed Artistes, Literary Icons and Journalists’ category.

The award ceremony is scheduled to hold at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, on 28 February.