The family of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has rejected has the offer of the Nigerian Government to honour him and his late mother Funmilayo as part of activities to mark 100 years of Nigeria.

While Fela has been shortlisted by the Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Centenary Celebrations to be honoured in the ‘Internationally Acclaimed Artistes, Literary Icons and Journalists’ category, his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, is nominated under the “Heroes of the struggle for Nigeria’s Independence/pioneer political leaders” category.

However, rather than rejoice over the double honour, Fela’s family has turned it down, according to Fela’s first son, Femi Kuti. He told P.M.NEWS that the family has not been officially informed about any centenary award and said they would not accept it unless the Federal Government first apologises for killing his grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and burning of Fela’s Kalakuta Republic.

According to Femi, also an Afrobeat star, “We have not heard such but I can speak for myself, FG should first apologise for the killing of our grandmother and the burning of Kalakuta.”

Asked if the family would accept the award if the government apologised for the two wrongs mentioned, Femi told P.M.NEWS: “Like I said we have not heard anything from the Federal Government. But I doubt if the family will accept the award.”

The award ceremony is scheduled to hold at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, this Friday, February 28 and would see President Goodluck Jonathan presenting awards to 100 centenary heroes, some of them posthumously.

•Photo of Fela and mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, courtesy abiyamo.com.

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