Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has missed out on the bid to become an inductee of the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where Tina Turner, Carole King, and Jay-Z made it.
Jay-Z, the Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Carole King, Todd Rundgren, and Tina Turner are the newest inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the organization announced Wednesday morning.
The hall said it’s 2021 class includes the “most diverse list of inductees in the history of the organization.” Three are two-time inductees.
Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, and Jay-Z were on the ballot for the first time this year.
Speaking of the new inductees, John Skyes, the Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said: “This diverse class of talented Inductees reflects the Rock Hall’s ongoing commitment to honor artists whose music created the sound of youth culture. It will make for an unforgettable live celebration of music in October at this year’s Induction Ceremony in Cleveland.”
To be eligible for induction, artists have to have released their first record 25 years earlier and “have created music whose originality, impact and influence have changed the course of rock & roll,” according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, and Jay-Z were on the ballot for the first time this year.
Musicians and groups who were nominated but not inducted were Mary J. Blige, Kate Bush, Devo, Iron Maiden, Chaka Khan, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, and Dionne Warwick.
Fela Kuti was first announced as a nominee for the award in February. Soon after the announcement, there was a huge push on social media to vote for the Nigerian music legend whose music much of the populace especially fans say is still relevant to date because of the social issues it addressed.
Massive support from celebrities like Davido, Burna Boy, Banky W, Don Jazzy, and other prominent voices gave the legend an early boost but the Turner fans gave it more from the results that were published by the hall.
If Fela had won, the multi-instrumentalist and Afrobeat legend would have made history as the first Nigerian artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
No Plans To Let Fela Win?
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and displeasure in the situation despite having the second-highest votes and other inductees not coming close to his number of votes being inducted to the hall.
See some of the tweets below:
How did Fela Anikulapo Kuti come in 2nd in #rockhalloffame fan voting but not get inducted? But Jay Z who was at the bottom got inducted? Fela has a bigger impact than Jay Z could ever dream of. Argue with your ancestors. #felarockhalloffame
— Temitope Junaid (@tjddon) May 12, 2021
It’s so sad when Afrobeats has come so far, that they still refuse to acknowledge our talents and clear influence on the culture.
Is it too much to ask that African Artists be acknowledge in the same categories, not just “International Talent”? #felarockhalloffame #felakuti
— Raro Lae (@TheRaroLae) May 12, 2021
Next time make una dey ask questions before voting #FelaRockHallOfFame
— M.O. (@mayooh) May 12, 2021
How is this possible????? #FelaRockHallOfFame came 2nd on the fans voting list, so how the hell did Jay-Z, Carole King etc be selected and not #FelaRockHallOfFame. Someone make it make sense o….I’m flummoxed 😶 pic.twitter.com/gGNbmAZrqd
— Sepiabird (@sepiabird) May 12, 2021
Do we really need their validation for us to Induct #Fela into our own #FelaRockHallOfFame. Afterall we are all convinced of his positive impact and social consciousness he instilled in us.#soundsultan #Sultan #laimohameed #Uber #davidhundeyin
— Francis TOBE ❄️ (@Nectar_Francis) May 12, 2021
Hello @rockhall. Why is FELA KUTI 🇳🇬 not among the #RockHall2021 Inductees??? Is it because he is from Africa??? What’s the essence of the Fan Vote where Fela Kuti was 2nd Place? TOTAL RUBBISH 😠😠#Fela #FelaKuti #Nigeria #FelaRockHallOfFame https://t.co/Xh2TB9lH38
— Seye Oyekunle (@seye_oyekunle) May 12, 2021
Can someone explain to me why Fela Kuti failed to make the @rockhall Hall of Fame inductee list despite placing behind only Tina Turner? Those with lesser votes even made the list! What’s the rationale behind this please, anybody? #FelaRockHallOfFame
— Benedict (@benniett) May 12, 2021
Fèlá Kuti is forever our legend with or without the #RockHall2021 🙌🏼 🇳🇬
— 💙 (@_iamtomi) May 12, 2021
But we learnt and we gained . We made Fela trend like MAD. https://t.co/neGJAsTyxG
— Femi Anikulapo-Kuti (@Femiakuti) May 12, 2021
