Let the duo rock

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Sade Adu entry into ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ should inspire local equivalent

Both of them deserve it, and its imprimaturs of Nigeria and its music are a cause for cheer. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Sade Adu were inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ and have ignited not only memory of Nigerian music over the past decades but also the surge of new rhythms and talents in the country.

Fela, as the Nigerian star is often called, is known for his innovations and audacious work in Afrobeat. The committee endorsed him in what it calls the Early Influence Award. This acknowledges the foundational work Fela has etched on the world with his oeuvre and the grounds he broke in his many-sided experimentations.

Adu, who operates from the diaspora, was singled out for the performer category. Sade blends jazz, rhythm and blues as well as soul. Fela combines African rhythms like apala, funk, salsa calypso and jazz for the furious enjoyment by his fans.

The Nigerian duo were not the only awardees in the 2026 class. Others include Phil Collins, Luther Vandross, Celia Cruz, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Wu-Tang Clan. We might say that the acknowledgements of these iconic Nigerian artistes are coming rather late. They are, however, welcome.

Adu has been in the ears and hearts of Nigeria since the 1980’s, and her voice has haunted the west and other parts of the world. She resides in the United Kingdom but her music has been in the homes of millions of her fans around the world. She has released quite a few albums, including Diamond Life, Stronger than pride, Soldier of Love and songs like Flower of the Universe. Although western critics and their fans try to appropriate her and even the New Yorker magazine calls her music “deeply English,” they have a problem categorising her because of the inescapable power of her roots. She was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, and grew up in the country before she proceeded to the United Kingdom.

Fela was born in Nigeria and nurtured his talent here after some time in the west. Fela occupies a different universe from Adu. Fela blended his art with a political militancy that made him a major foe of the military, and he spent some time behind bars. He is known for some songs like Zombie and Beasts of no nation.

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The significance of this recognition can also be linked to the rollicking rise of Nigerian music around the world. When Fela and Adu were on the ascendant, Nigerians were sharing their love with a lot of western raves. Our music was sometimes seen as inferior to the west. But increasingly, we are stripping ourselves of that influence. Nigerian radio stations and social gatherings have now looked inward. So, we hear of vibes from such music stars as Davido, Whizkid and Burna boy. Whether it is in the Olympics or World Cup or social events around the world, it is not often a surprise to hear the familiar rhythms of our culture.

The Fela and Adu recognitions will go down as an icing on the cake for our genres and a cultural statement that the world has now come round. We can thank the power of the global village for this, especially in the story of Fela. He had been performing in the west for decades, and was given his plaudits but not as a top icon he deserved then.

We can also say that the voices of some world leaders of late like Emmanuel Macron and Barak Obama may have added to this cultural reckoning.

Up and coming artistes can take inspiration from this. We must also say, in spite of the fact that both Adu and Fela are household names and have become something of a cultural force in their own rights, the nation has not afforded them the institutional recognition they deserve. It is not late. They made monuments in our hearts. We need the monuments we can see.