The Hakeem Shitta Photo and Cultural Archive (HSPACA) has joined the global community to celebrate the Grammy Awards recognition of Afrobeats pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing the honour as a reaffirmation of his enduring legacy as a musician, activist and cultural icon.
Esther Oladimeji, Curator, HSPACA, in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, said the recognition once again placed Fela at the centre of global conversations on music, culture and social consciousness, decades after his passing.
According to Oladimeji, the archive preserved rare photographs of Fela from the 1980s to 1990s, taken by acclaimed photographer, Hakeem Shitta.
“The photographs include those of him performing before a mammoth crowd and playing with his band.”
She said the photographs remain powerful visual records of his charisma, energy and defiance during Nigeria’s golden era of music and activism.
She also drew attention to lesser-known aspects of Fela’s life, including his posthumous induction into the Nigerian Taekwondo Hall of Fame alongside Shitta.
The recognition, she said, underscored a multifaceted life of discipline, resilience and cultural pride that extended beyond the stage.
“Fela’s enduring impact offers lessons for today’s generation of musicians: the importance of authenticity in artistry.
“The courage to use music as a platform for social consciousness and the recognition that lasting legacies are built not on individual talent but also on the strength of collaboration with dedicated bands and creative partners.”
She added that by embracing these values, contemporary artists could build work that remained relevant long after its time, just as Fela’s continues to inspire the world today.
She said HSPACA was founded to preserve Nigeria’s cultural memory, with its collection housing over 6,000 images and documents, capturing Nigeria’s national heritage between 1981 and 1997.
Some of the images and documents curated, include theatre productions, concerts, art exhibitions, trade fairs, book launches, music awards, beauty pageants and festivals, alongside everyday life and historic civic events.
Oladimeji said the archive serves as a vital resource for research, education, and global recognition of Nigeria’s culture, preserving authentic records for future generations.
