Joy Onuorah

Veteran singer, King Sunny Ade, and late Sikiru Barrister and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, have been inducted into the first-ever Afrobeats hall of fame.

A corpus of Nigerian music legends and icons were honoured at the first-ever Afrobeats Hall of Fame (ABHF) induction ceremony which was held on Saturday.

The glamorous event, organised by Estilo Davida, the Nigerian hospitality firm, was an epoch-making ceremony graced by a constellation of superstars from the Nigerian music industry.

With a black carpet show hosted by Uti Nwachukwu and Samantha Walsh and the main event anchored by Bovi and Dbanj, the show was a celebration of the historic and cultural significance of Nigerian music.

The inducted class of 2021 were divided into three categories for this award nomination:

• The first category is also known as The early Influencers, including Tunde King, Onitsha Native Orchestra, E.C Arinze, Victor Olaiya, Mamman Chata and Bobby Benson.
• The mid-influencer (the 60s –70s) category is next with music greats like Chief Osita Osadebe, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Rex Lawson, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, King Sunny Ade, Dan Maraya Jos, Peacock Guitar Band International and Bala Miller.
• The last category — (the 90s – 2000s) modern influencer, which includes the power to vote — has the likes of 2face Idibia, Onyeka Onwenu, Femi Kuti, Daddy Showkey and a host of others while Tony Odili, Jimmy Amu, King Sunny Ade, Rex Lawson, Onyeka Onwenu, Ebenezer Obey, Chief Osita Osadebe, Fela Anikulapo Kuti will be getting special recognition for “Lifetime Achievements” in the music industry.

There was also the non-performing category will include Keke and D1, Olisa Adibu, Obi Asika, Sunday Are and Eddie Lawani.

Wizkid performed at the event alongside Made Kuti, fellow Grammy-nominated singer, and the duo combined to bless the audience with their offerings.