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Music not about winning awards: Femi Kuti

Kuti said beyond winning awards, music should inspire “hope” and “comfort” listeners.

• November 26, 2020
Afrobeat singer Femi Kuti
Afrobeat singer Femi Kuti (Photo Credit: Bella Naija)

Femi Kuti on Thursday said music is beyond winning awards, including the Grammys.

Kuti, who has the highest number of nominations for Grammys in Nigeria, said on Twitter Thursday that great musicians like his late dad and Bob Marley never made it to the Grammys.

“Music really isn’t about awards though,” the artist said. “Fela never won or was never nominated. I don’t think Bob Marley was too.”

Kuti said beyond winning awards, music should inspire “hope” and “comfort” listeners. 
“Music is about spreading Red heart, giving people the will to go through the hard times in life, etc and inspiration,” he said. “Music must bring comfort too.”

Femi Kuti was nominated for Grammys in 2003, 2010, 2012 and 2013.
His comments came two days after Nigeria’s Burna Boy received Grammys nomination for two consecutive years.

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