Femi Kuti picks up world music award

Let's hear it for African music!

Nigeria's Femi Kuti has been named the Best World Music artist in the Songlines magazine's annual wards.

Kuti, 48, is the son of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Femi Kuti has taken on his father's mantle, winning acclaim across Africa for songs that rail against corruption and repression on the continent. Femi Kuti's latest album "Africa for Africa" is seen as a breakthrough in the younger Kuti's work, taking him out of his father's shadow and into his own.

"Songs like "Politics in Africa," "Can't Buy Me" and "Bad Government" all serve to underline his utter disdain for the corrupt politicians of his native Nigeria and other African nations — a theme that continues to be pertinent today with events happening across North Africa and Ivory Coast," it said.

Femi Kuti grew up in Lagos and his joined his father's band. Like his father, Femi's songs concentrate on social and political issues. Femi Kuti has been nominated for Grammy awards in 2003 and 2010.  

Another African award winner in the World Music Awards is AfroCubism which picked up the award for Best Cross-Cultural Collaboration. AfroCubism brought together musicians from Cuba and Mali.

Songlines readers make the nominations for the awards and the final awards are decided by the magazine's editors.

Songlines editor Simon Broughton said the role of musicians in recent popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt showed their relevance beyond just entertainment.

AFRICA FOR AFRICA NEW FEMI KUTI ALBUM by wedomusic