Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known as Femi Kuti, has been conferred the Legend Meets Legend award for his courage, consistency and authenticity by Legend Extra Stout.
On receiving the award, Femi Kuti stated:
“It’s always a great thing to win awards like this as they are just not for the music but for the choices I have made to make me the man I am today.
I believe everyone is capable of being a legend and I challenge us all to, in every step of our lives, make the right decision. You never know who you are inspiring to be better.”
The 55 year-old Afro beat musician is the eldest son of his father, Afrobeat legend and pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He took on the mantle of his father, continuing to win accolades across the world for songs against poor governance, corruption and repression in Africa.
According to Emmanuel Agu Portfolio Manager-Mainstream, Lager and Stout brands Nigerian Breweries:
“Femi Kuti is well known to be a man of courage hence the award conferred on him tonight. He is a man that inspires other men to break the cycle and be real men.
It was great to honor him for his uniqueness and the courage he shows through his music. We can’t wait to celebrate him at the Real Deal Experience in Lagos and celebrate, alongside with him, his father, at Felabration later in October.”
Femi Kuti has been nominated for a Grammy award four times in the world music category in 2003, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Though born in London, he grew up in Lagos and joined his father’s band, ‘Egypt 80’, as a teenager (16) playing the saxophone and keyboard. He later started his own band ‘Positive Force’ in 1986, and began establishing himself as an artist independent of his father’s massive legacy.
Like his father, Femi’s songs concentrate on social and political issues. His international career began in 1988 when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christain Mousset to perform at the Festival d’Angouleme (france), the New Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany.
In 2001, Femi collaborated with a number of US musicians, including Common, Mos Def and Jaguar Wright on his album, Fight to win.
