Felabration

Last updated

Felabration
Felaboration promo poster.jpeg
Felabration 2015 promotional poster
Genre
Location(s) New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja
Years active1998–present
Founded by 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 12th - 18th 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 was also the annual Fela debates for secondary schools tagged " Poverty Is Not An Acccident". The festival had legendary performances from Star acts like Third World: an international reggae group, 2face, Femi Kuti, Ice Prince and a surprise performance by Majek Fashek. [7] [8] [9] [10]

2016 edition: "Everybody Say Yeah Yeah"

The week long festival held from 10–16 October 2016 at the Africa shrine, Ikeja, Lagos State. [11] The theme was coined from one of the sayings of the legendary Fela which he used to entertain guest during his performances. [12] The festival began with a symposium tagged "Movement Against Second Slavery" and was moderated by Prof. Sophie Oluwole. There was also the famous Fela debates, art exbition, street carnivals and other activities to thrill fans. There was performances from artistes like Jaywon, Ajebutter, Orezi, Sugarboy and Ojjay Wright. [13] [14]

2017 edition: "The Prophecy"

The week long festival took place from 9–15 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 Prof Patrice Lumumba, a renowned Kenyan scholar. [17] Other speakers at the festival includes Ben Bruce, Donald Duke. There was 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 15th - 21st 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 the Legendary 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 the French President Emmanuel Macron to the New Africa Shrine. [24] [25] As part of the celebration, there was performances from Famous Nigerian artiste like 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 14–20 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 15–17 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 choose to hold the festival virtually. This was the first time the festival was held virtually. [32] The Festival kicked started 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 and the winner goes home with fifty thousand naira. There was also the secondary school debates, art festivals and other events that preceded the festival. There were also musical performances from Wizkid, 2baba, Joeboy, Falz and a host of other afrobeat musicians. [34]

Related Research Articles

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

Afrobeat is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles and 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 is responsible for popularizing the style both within and outside Nigeria.

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

Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti, also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the pioneer 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">Lagos State</span> State in Nigeria

Lagos State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 states, it is both the most populous and smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Benin Republic, Lagos State borders Ogun State to the east and north 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 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".

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemi Ghariokwu</span>

Lemi Ghariokwu, also known simply as Lemi, is a Nigerian artist, illustrator and designer who is most renowned for providing many of the original cover images for the recordings of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.

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 residential and commercial Local Government Area located on the mainland of Lagos in Lagos State, Nigeria, with an area of 23 km2 (8.9 sq mi). At the last census in the year 2006, 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">Wizkid</span> Nigerian singer and songwriter (born 1990)

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. A prominent figure in the modern-day Afrobeats music scene, Wizkid is regarded as one of the biggest and most influential African artists of all time. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five (5), a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He later rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".

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

Bolanle Austen-Peters, is a Nigerian movie director, theater producer and cultural entrepreneur. She is the founder and artistic director of BAP Productions and the arts and culture center Terra Kulture in Lagos. She has been described by the CNN as the "woman pioneering theater in Nigeria", named one of the most influential women in Africa by Forbes Afrique and been recognised with several awards for her contribution to the arts.

<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.

Omoyeni 'Yeni' Anikulapo-Kuti is a dancer, singer and descendant of the Ransome-Kuti family. Her grandmother was Nigerian women's rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. Anikulapo-Kuti pioneered the idea of Felabration, a music festival conceived to celebrate the life and contributions of her late father Fela Kuti to the Nigerian society.

Newen Afrobeat is an Afrobeat band that started in 2009 in Chile. Newen Afrobeat revisits Fela Kuti's musical heritage. The word Newén means 'strength' in the Mapuche language.

<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> Musical artist

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

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

References

  1. ↑ Funke, Arogundade (12 October 2015). "Sandra Iszadore, Fashola, Ajibade, others speak at Felabration". P.M. News . Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "AS FELABRATION 2015 KICKS OFF". The Nation . 12 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Abulude, Samuel (28 August 2015). "Felabration Revs Up, Holds in October". The Leadership. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Akinwale, Funsho (25 August 2015). "2015 Felabration to hold in October". The Eagle. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Felabration Celebrates The Icon At 77". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "AS FELABRATION 2015 KICKS OFF". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "Fela Kuti, Afrobeat & the 7UP Connection Celebrated at Felabration 2015!". Brandessence Nigeria - The Heart and Soul of a Brand: Latest Brand News, Latest branding News, Brand Nigeria, Brand news Nigeria, Online Brand Promotion Nigeria, Brand promotional magazine, advert agencies in nigeria, entertainment news in nigeria, battle of brands, branding in nigeria Brand News, Advertising News, The First Brand KnowledgeBase Customer Magazine in Nigeria. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  8. ↑ "Felabration 2015 begins". Music In Africa. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "Africa in pictures: 16-22 October 2015". BBC News. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "5 Reasons Why This Year's Felabration Should Interest You". Nairametrics. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "Felabration 2016: One week of intense fun, partying and remembrance of Fela". Vanguard News. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  12. ↑ "Felabration 2016: Everybody say "yeah yeah"". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "Organisers announce date, theme unveils new logo". Pulse Nigeria. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "Felabration 2016 carnival". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Felabration 2017: Celebrating 20 years of Fela's passing". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "Big plans for 2017 Felabration". Vanguard News. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "Renowned Kenyan scholar, Patrick Lumumba, to speak at 2017 Felabration | Premium Times Nigeria". 24 September 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "Sweet and sour memories of Felabration 2017". Vanguard News. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  19. ↑ "Over 250, 000 guests expected at 2017 Felabration festival- Yeni Kuti". Daily Trust. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "'Felabration' Opens in Lagos". Sahara Reporters. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "Nigeria top singers wey get Fela spirit". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "Felabration 2018… Legendary 80th posthumous birthday for Fela". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  23. ↑ "Overtake overtakes overtake". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  24. ↑ Lagos, Reuters in (4 July 2018). "Macron visits Fela Kuti-founded nightclub during Nigeria visit". the Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  25. ↑ "Emmanuel Macron at the Afrika Shrine". Vanguard News. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  26. ↑ "Felabration 2018: Legend Extra stout prepares to honour Fela at 80". Vanguard News. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  27. ↑ "Night of music, dance at Felabration 2018". Vanguard News. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "Charly Boy set to perform at 2019 'Felabration' Festival". Punch Newspapers. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  29. ↑ "Felabration 2019: How We Came About the Theme, "From Lagos, With Love!" – Yeni Kuti -". The NEWS. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  30. ↑ "Chimamanda Adichie, Bobi Wine, others for 2019 Felabration | Premium Times Nigeria". 22 September 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  31. ↑ "Felabration 2019… Sounds of Afrobeat 'From Lagos With Love'". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  32. ↑ Alonge, Bolaji (13 October 2020). "Felabration 2020 goes virtual -'Fight to Finish, Fight to Win'". Eyes of a Lagos Boy. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  33. ↑ "Felabration 2020: Femi & Seun Kuti, Wande Coal, Niniola and More Will Play Virtual 3-Day Fest". OkayAfrica. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  34. ↑ "2020 Felabration: Wizkid, 2baba, others to perform at virtual edition". 14 October 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2021.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.