Felabration

Last updated

Felabration
Felaboration promo poster.jpeg
Felabration 2015 promotional poster
Genre
Location(s) New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja
Years active1998present
Founders Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti
Website felabration.net

Felabration is an annual music festival conceived in 1998 by Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti in memory and celebration of her father Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician and human rights activist known for pioneering the Afrobeat genre of music. [1] The one-week-long event which is held annually at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, attracts visitors from different countries and has thus been considered as an official tourist destination by the Lagos State Government. [2]

Contents

Felabration is held on the week of Fela Kuti's birthday. The event features musical performances from top music acts from Nigeria and guest appearances from internationally acclaimed musicians and personalities. [3] It also consists of street parades, symposia on social and topical issues, debates and photo exhibitions. [4]

2015 edition: "Just Like That"

The week-long festival took place from 12 to 18 October 2015 at the famous Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos State. [5] That year's edition kicked off with a symposium titled "Human Rights As My Property", and the session was anchored by Honourable Sasore, former Attorney General of Lagos State. [6] There were also the annual Fela debates for secondary schools, tagged "Poverty Is Not An Accident". The festival had performances from star acts including international reggae group Third World, 2face, Femi Kuti, Ice Prince, as well as a surprise performance by Majek Fashek. [7] [8] [9] [10]

2016 edition: "Everybody Say Yeah Yeah"

The week-long festival was held from 10 to 16 October 2016 at the Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos State. [11] The theme was derived from one of Fela's sayings with which he used to entertain guests during his performances. [12] The festival began with a symposium titled "Movement Against Second Slavery" that was moderated by Prof. Sophie Oluwole. There were also the famous Fela debates, art exhibition, street carnivals and other activities to thrill fans. There were performances from artistes such as Jaywon, Ajebutter, Orezi, Sugarboy and Ojjay Wright. [13] [14]

2017 edition: "The Prophecy"

The week-long festival took place from 9 to 15 October 2017 at the Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos State. [15] The theme was coined out from one of the lyrics of Fela that says "i don sing am before, nothing new". The Festival had its normal school debates titled "African History; a curriculum necessity". [16] The festival symposium was tagged "Whither the Pan African Dream – 20 years after Fela and 40 years after FESTAC '77?" and it was moderated by Professor Patrice Lumumba, a renowned Kenyan scholar. [17] Other speakers at the festival includes Ben Bruce, Donald Duke. There were also performances from artiste to thrill fans, the usual street carnival and arts exhibition. [18] [19] [20] [21]

2018 edition: "Overtake Don Overtake Overtake"

The week-long festival took place from 15 to 21 October 2018 at the New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos State. [22] This editions theme was coined out of Felas legendary hit titled "Overtake Don Overtake Overtake". The song talks about Fela's anger at the Nigerian government for allowing the society to decay, increase in injustice and those that are supposed to change things are leaving the country to decay. [23]

The celebration was also boosted by the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the New Africa Shrine. [24] [25] As part of the celebration, there were performances from famous Nigerian artiste including Femi Kuti, Davido, Mayorkun and Peruzzi to celebrate the life of the legendary Fela and also to celebrate afrobeat music, which can be termed the heartbeat of the legendary Icon Fela Kuti. The major sponsor for this years celebration is the Legend extra stout from the Nigerian brewery company. Other activities that followed the week-long event includes The Fela Debates, debates for secondary schools in Lagos state, photo exhibitions, Fela street carnival and other activities geared at celebrating afrobeat. One of the highlights of the event was the mild drama that ensured between Vice president Yemi Osinbajo and Femi Kuti. [26] [27]

2019 edition: "From Lagos With Love"

The week-long festival took place from 14 to 20 October 2019 at the New Afrika Shrine, Lagos State. [28] The theme was inspired by the popular Felas song titled "Eko Ile". The song talks about praises for Lagos state as a centre of love, joy and fun and urges everyone to visit Lagos state because Lagos state is home. [29] The celebration had in attendance afrobeat sensation and BET 2019 Internation Act winner Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu popularly known as Burna boy who thrilled the crowd with performance of some of his hit tracks like "ye", "On the Low" and "Another Story". Other artistes that graced the celebration includes Charly Boy, Sauti Sol, Labaja, King Sunny Ade, Efe and a host of other afrobeat musicians. [30]

The celebration also had a symposium anchored by popular award-winning black African poet and writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Bobi Wine; musician turned politician from Uganda, Professor Akin Oyebode, professor of jurisprudence and international law and famous celebrated Nigerian playwright and author Sefi Atta. [31] As usual, the celebration had a secondary schools debate, Fela debates, art exhibitions and other side activities to keep fans entertained for the week-long festival.

2020 virtual edition: "Fight to Finish, Fight to Win"

The festival took place from 15 to 17 October 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic rocking the world at the time of the festival and the restriction on gatherings and activities, the organisers chose to hold the festival virtually. This was the first time the festival was held virtually. [32] The Festival was kickstarted with a Felabration symposium titled "Colomentality" which was anchored by a Ugandan journalist and broadcaster Vincent Magombe. Some of the speakers at the symposium includes Arikana Chihombori, former permanent representative to the African Union Mission in Washinghton and Kweku Mandela, a filmmaker and producer from South Africa. [33]

Other activities in the festival included the "Dress Like Fela Challenge", where fans compete to imitate the dressing of the legendary Fela, with the winner going home with fifty thousand naira. There was also the secondary school debates, art festivals and other events that preceded the festival, and there were musical performances from Wizkid, 2baba, Joeboy, Falz and a host of other afrobeat musicians. [34]

2022 edition: "Fear not for Man"

The 2022 Felabration was held at the New Afrikan Shrine, Ikeja, from 10 to 16 October 2022. There were a total of 300 musical acts that performed onstage during the concert. The 2022 Felabration was themed "Fear not for man" and was hosted by Omo Baba.

At the show, several different musical acts took the stage, including Femi Kuti, Made Kuti,  MI, Vector, Phyno, Omawumi, Sule Alao Malaika, Candy Bleakz, Terry G, Rema to name a few. [35]

Debates and public speaking

Every year, Felabration holds a public speaking and debate contest for students of secondary schools on topics that are most concerning to the society. The most recent edition was won by Abdulrahman Oke, [36] a student of King's College, Lagos, while speaking on the effects of video games.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afrobeat</span> West African music genre, distinct from Afrobeats

Afrobeat is a West African music genre, fusing influences from Nigerian and Ghanian music, with American funk, jazz, and soul influences. With a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms, and percussion, the style was pioneered in the 1960s by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who popularised it both within and outside Nigeria. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fela Kuti</span> Nigerian musician and activist (1938–1997)

Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì was a Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers". AllMusic described him as "a musical and sociopolitical voice" of international significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ikeja</span> Capital city of Lagos State, Nigeria

Ikeja is the capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313,196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, clean and quiet residential and commercial town with shopping malls, pharmacies and government reservation areas. It lies 10.5 miles (17 km) northwest of Lagos city. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is located in the city. Ikeja is also home to Femi Kuti's Africa Shrine and Lagbaja's Motherland, both venues for live music. Its Ikeja City Mall is the largest mall on the Lagos State mainland. Ikeja also has its own radio station, broadcasting both in English and in Yoruba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagos State</span> State in Nigeria

Lagos State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 Nigerian states, it is the most populous state but the smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Benin for 10 km, Lagos State borders Ogun State to the north for about 283 km, making it the only Nigerian state to border only one other state. Named for the city of Lagos—the most populous city in Africa—the state was formed from the Western Region and the former Federal Capital Territory on 27 May 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femi Kuti</span> Nigerian musician and singer-songwriter

Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician born in London and raised in Lagos. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and a grandchild of political campaigner, women's rights activist and traditional aristocrat Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Allen (musician)</span> Nigerian musician (1940–2020)

Tony Oladipo Allen was a Nigerian and French drummer, composer, and songwriter who lived and worked in Paris, France. Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the founders of the Afrobeat genre. Fela once stated that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat". He was described by Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived". Later in life, Allen collaborated with Damon Albarn on several projects, including Gorillaz, the Good, the Bad & the Queen and Rocket Juice & the Moon.

Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti was a Nigerian physician known for his work as a human rights activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seun Kuti</span> Nigerian Afrobeat saxophonist and singer (born 1983)

Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, singer and the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father's former band Egypt 80.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weird MC</span> Nigerian musician

Weird MC is a Nigerian-British rapper, songwriter, and producer. Known for her English/Yoruba lyrics, Weird MC, who is also known as Shola Idowu and The Rappatainer, is one of Africa’s most popular female rappers, and one of the few Nigerian female artists associated with Afrobeat.

<i>Fela!</i> American Broadway musical

Fela! is a jukebox musical with a book by Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis, based on music and lyrics by the late Nigerian singer Fela Kuti, with additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean and additional lyrics by Jim Lewis. It is based on events in the life of groundbreaking Nigerian composer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti. It portrays Kuti in the days when he was the target of 1,000 government soldiers assigned to end his public performances at the legendary Lagos nightclub The Shrine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surulere</span> Place in Lagos State, Nigeria

Surulere is a local government area located on the mainland in Lagos State, Nigeria. It has an area of 23 km2 (8.9 sq mi). At the 2006 census, there were 503,975 inhabitants, with a population density of 21,864 inhabitants per square kilometer. The local government area is bordered by Yaba, Mushin and Ebute-Metta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolanle Austen-Peters</span> Nigerian movie director (born 1969)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Afrika Shrine</span> Entertainment centre in Lagos, Nigeria

The New Afrika Shrine is an open air entertainment centre located in Ikeja, Lagos State. It serves as the host location of the annual Felabration music festival. Currently managed by Femi Kuti and Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, it is the replacement of the old Afrika Shrine created in 1970 by Fela Kuti until it was burnt down in 1977. The New Afrika Shrine showcases photo galleries of Fela and music performances by Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti thus making it a tourist attraction.

Ọmọ́yẹni "Yeni" Aníkúlápó Kútì is a British-born Nigerian dancer and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temi Dollface</span>

Temi DollFace is a Nigerian electro-pop-soul singer, who grew up in England. Her music is described as "a brand of music that is jazzy, energetic and theatrical". She is best known for her 2013 single "Pata Pata", which received four AFRIMA nominations at the All Africa Music Awards for "Best Video", "Revelation Of The African Continent", "Best African Pop Song" and "Most Promising African Artiste On The Continent". In 2016 TemiDollFace released the single "Beep Beep", ahead of an album release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Made Kuti</span> Nigerian singer and songwriter

Ọmọ́rìnmádé Kútì known professionally as Made Kuti, is a Nigerian afrobeat singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. He released his debut album titled For(e)ward in 2021.

<i>Legacy+</i> 2021 studio album by Femi Kuti and Made Kuti

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Professor Hindu is a Ghanaian magician, healer and close spiritual associate of the late Nigerian Afrobeat musician, Fela Kuti.

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