Fela, Gani Fawehinmi Families & Wole Soyinka Reject Centenary Award

The families of late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti along with Nobel Prize winner Professor Wole Soyinka have rejected the posthumous awards planned for them by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Rejecting the late Fawehinmi's award, his family said they appreciative of the honour and commended the federal government for considering their father for the honour but cited reasons for turning down the offer.

The oldest son of the late lawyer, Mohammed Fawehinmi rejected the award in a addressed to Chief Ayim Pius Ayim, SGF. Read it HERE.

Likewise, Femi Kuti son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela , went on Twitter to say that his family has not been officially informed about any centenary award for his late father. He however said, that his family would reject such award. The family urged the Federal Government to first apologise for killing his grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and burning of Kalakuta Republic.

"We have not heard such but I can speak for myself, Federal Government should first apologise for the killing of our grandmother and the burning of Kalakut"

"Like I said we have not heard anything from the Federal Government. But I doubt if the family will accept the award", Femi tweeted.

Also according to Vanguard, Soyinka rejected his own award saying, "I would have preferred that the entire day of infamy be ignored altogether. I’m even thinking favourably of just ignoring the obscenity, then turning up at the counter-event".