By Adesoba Toluwalope
Afrobeat legend, Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti popularly known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti could be set for a posthumous honour as he has been nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2021.
President and CEO of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Greg Harris unveiled the list of nominees on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.
The legendary Afrobeat singer made this year’s list of nominees after two decades after his death.
Fela was nominated alongside 15 other artists including rappers Jay-Z and LL Cool J, R&B stars Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan and Dionne Warwick.
Others include Rage Against the Machine and Foo Fighters, female singers Kate Bush, Carole King and Tina Turner in a gender inclusive list.
Public votes end on April 30 and inductees will be announced in May.
“We’ll announce our new Inductees in May.
“They’ll be honored at the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony right here in Cleveland, Ohio this fall,” Gregg Harris added.
The 36th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of fame will take place in May.
According to the chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, John Skyles, “This remarkable ballot reflects the diversity and depth of the artists and music the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates.
“These Nominees have left an indelible impact on the sonic landscape of the world and influenced countless artists that have followed them.”
Fela was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer and Pan-Africanist. He was born on October 15, 1938 in Abeokuta, Ogun State and died on August 2, 1997 in Lagos.
The Afrobeat composer and singer was an outspoken critic of several military regimes in Nigeria and was often arrested for his troubles.
Fela had campaigned against the military with his music.
He released the album “Zombie,” in 1977 to expose and ridicule the military government. In response, the military burned his home, beat him, and threw his mother out of a window. She died soon after from her injuries.
However, this didn’t stop the legend from producing more music.
The legend died in August 2, 1997 from complications from AIDS, his brother, Olikoye had announced.
Kuti is a first cousin to the writer and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, the first black African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
