Coachella: Nigerians hail Beyonce for singing Fela’s song

Some Nigerians on Twitter have applauded the American music star, Beyonce, for paying tribute to Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, at the ongoing Coachella Music Festival in the United States of America.

The music legend also honoured Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie.

Beyonce, who became the first black woman to headline Coachella on Saturday, did so with a two-hour performance and had her band perform a rendition of Fela’s 1976 classic ‘Zombie’.

Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician and activist, who launched Afro-beat, which then fused American blues, jazz and funk with traditional Yoruba music.

NAN reports that Nigerians were excited that she decided to honour two Nigerians, alongside other black legends including Nina Simone and Malcolm X.

Coachella Nigerians hail Beyonce for singing Fela's song lailasnews

Nigerian singer, Emma Nyra, using her Twitter handle @emmanyra wrote:

“Beyonce just made me so proud to be who I am. Unapologetically black, female and talented. Our voice matters. She even paid tribute to Fela! I will forever be a fan.”

@Blackdot_Mandy tweeted:

“Beyonce just paid a tribute to Afroking and Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti during her Coachella performance. I stan Beyonce Knowles.”

@Erhuwrites wrote

“Who else got chills when they heard Chimamanda’s voice at the end of Beyonce’s glorious performance at Coachella? I still have goose bumps.”

@DrDendere tweeted:

“Beyonce is now new level amazing. Chimamanda blasting out during her Coachella performance is life.”

@Ganga_A wrote:

“Within Beyonce’s Coachella performance in the little bit where the band was going off, they play Fela Kuti’s Zombie. This is why she is number one, a cultured queen and an unshakeable throne.”

@KLCHII tweeted, “Beyonc really brought Fela to Coachella with that lil hook.”

The ‘irreplaceable’ crooner also featured Chimamanda Adichie’s speech ‘We Should All Be Feminists’, which was sampled on her song ‘Flawless’, at the end of her performance.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival commonly referred to as Coachella or the Coachella Festival is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, located in the Inland Empire’s Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert.