FELA TAKES EARLY LEAD AS ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME VOTING BEGINS

“He was a Rockstar. He was probably the first counter cultural hero on a large scale in Africa.” Michael E. Veal 

Legendary Afrobeat pioneer,Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has emerged as a front -runner for induction into the Rock & Roll of Fame a week after voting for the Class of 2021 began. The late Afrobeat legend has scored 140,000 fan votes at the time of going to press, according to Rock Hall officials-30,000 more than Tina Turner in second place and 60,000 more than third place Foo Fighters. 

Fela Kuti and 15 other top international acts have been nominated for the 2021Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Voting is now open to the public. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President and CEO, Greg Harris announced the list of 16 nominees. Top five artists with most votes will be revealed in May and they will be up for induction into the Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America.  

Nominated alongside Fela Kuti are;Tina Turner, Kate Bush, Devo,Foo Fighters, Mary J Blige, The Go-Go’s, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Chaka Khan, Carole King, LL Cool J,New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, Todd Rundgren and Dionne Warwick.  

On the 24th year since his demise. Fela,the maestro makes the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class for the first time. A development hailed by music pundits worldwide and viewed as long overdue by fans. The only category out of five that has seen new inductees every single year is the performers category, where artists become eligible for induction 25 years after their first record. 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF) is a museum and hall of fame established in 1983 by Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records. With hundreds of inductees that include huge superstars; James Brown, Elvis Presley, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Nirvana, ABBA and many others. The museum documents the history of rock music and the artists, producers, engineers, and other notable figures who have influenced its development. Meanwhile, Ohio music lovers can also vote in-person at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. The Hall is still hoping that the COVID-19 situation will improve to allow for a live induction ceremony in the fall, after last year’s class had to settle for a taped HBO special. 

Vote for Fela here: 

https://eyesofalagosboy.com/2021/02/12/vote-for-fela-kuti-induction-into-the-rock and-roll-hall-of-fame/

Author: Seyi Awoleye

Los-Angeles, USA

seyiawoleye@yahoo.com