Some Nigerians on Twitter have applauded the American music star, Beyonce, for paying tribute to Afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and honouring Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie.
Beyonce, who became the first black woman to headline Coachella last Saturday, did so with a two-hour performance and had her band perform a rendition of Fela’s 1976 classic ‘Zombie’.
Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician and activist, who launched Afro-beat, which then fused American blues, jazz and funk with traditional Yoruba music. Nigerians were excited that she decided to honour two Nigerians, alongside other black legends including Nina Simone and Malcolm X. Nigerian singer, Emma Nyra, wrote @emmanyra tweeted: “Beyonce just made me so proud to be who I am.
Unapologetically black, female and talented. Our voice matters. She even paid tribute to Fela! I will forever be a fan.”@Blackdot_Mandy tweeted, “Beyonce just paid a tribute to Afroking and Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, during her Coachella performance. I stan Beyonce Knowles.”@Erhuwrites wrote: “Who else got chills when they heard Chimamanda’s voice at the end of Beyonce’s glorious performance at Coachella? I still have goose bumps.”
@DrDendere tweeted: “Beyonce is now new level amazing. Chimamanda blasting out during her Coachella performance is life.”
@Ganga_A wrote: “Within Beyonce’s Coachella performance in the little bit where the band was going off, they play Fela Kuti’s Zombie. This is why she is number one, a cultured queen and an unshakeable throne.”
@KLCHII tweeted: “Beyonce really brought Fela to Coachella with that lil hook.” ‘irreplaceable’ crooner also featured Chimamanda Adichie’s speech ‘We Should All Be Feminists’, which was sampled on her song ‘Flawless’, at the end of her performance.”
Chimamanda Adichie is a multi-award winning writer and her second book ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ won the Orange Prize.
Two Nigerian dancers also took to their Instagram handles to thank Beyonce for giving them the chance to perform alongside her. Diddi Emah and Kendra Oyesanya hailed Beyonce’s work ethic and dedication to her craft.
Kendra wrote: “A dream come true. Performed with the one and only @beyonce At #Coachella. I don’t know why I had to lose my dad during this process, but I know he was watching me from the front row. Thank you Beychella And Thank you @jaquelknight & @chrisgranted.”
While Diddi wrote: “God bless you @beyonce!!! @jaquelknight would I have done without you? This one is for all the small girls in villages back home in Nigeria. God is alive and kicking! Dream as big as you can-and then believe it! Thank you for all the support.
To perform behind the first black woman to SLAY the stage at Coachella-to slay the world. All hail the QUEEN @beyonce. She is a true masterpiece. I’VE NEVER WATCH SOMEONE WORK THAT HARD Let alone a woman. Thank you to all the Historical Black Colleges-you made this possible. I’m so proud to be African and American.”
Beyonce has been trending since after her performance for the groundbreaking routine at Coachella, song selections and surprises, including bringing her defunct group ‘Destiny’s Child’ and husband cum superstar rapper, Jay-Z, on stage.After her live performance at Coachella, Beyonce literally broke the internet with her performance, with many renaming the concert ‘Beychella’.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid, is billed to perform at Coachella next weekend on April 21.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival commonly referred to as Coachella or the Coachella Festival is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, located in the Inland Empire’s Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert.