- Dede Mabiaku, a former member of Fela’s legendary Afrika 70 band, remains one of the foremost torchbearers of the Afrobeat movement
- Burna Boy has repeatedly credited Fela Kuti as a defining influence on his artistry
- The performance rekindled memories of Fela’s revolutionary sound, with fans across generations
Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has set social media abuzz after mounting the stage with Afrobeat legend Dede Mabiaku to deliver a rousing performance of Palava, one of the iconic works of late music pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Eko Hot Blog reports that a video from the moment, now trending online, captured Burna Boy fully immersed in the rendition as Dede Mabiaku took charge of the lead vocals, drawing thunderous applause and sing-alongs from an electrified audience.
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The performance rekindled memories of Fela’s revolutionary sound, with fans across generations connecting to the message-laden song, originally titled Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am.
The track’s themes of injustice, abuse of power and societal imbalance struck a chord, reaffirming the continued relevance of Fela’s ideology.
Burna Boy has repeatedly credited Fela Kuti as a defining influence on his artistry, often weaving Afrobeat rhythms and socially conscious storytelling into his own global sound.
Dede Mabiaku, a former member of Fela’s legendary Afrika 70 band, remains one of the foremost torchbearers of the Afrobeat movement, keeping its spirit alive through performances at home and abroad.
Fans have since described the collaboration as a symbolic bridge between Afrobeat’s roots and its modern worldwide dominance, praising both artistes for honouring the genre’s heritage.
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