16.9.2025
An exhibition designed to showcase the life, musical and enduring legacy of the late Afrobeats pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will open in Lagos in October.
The exhibition, with the theme “Fela Anikulapo-Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion”, is organised by Whitespace Creative Arts (AWCA) Foundation, with support from the French Embassy in Nigeria, the Kuti family and Ecobank.
The 10-week cultural programme will run from Oct. 12 to Dec. 28, featuring a rich blend of archives, music, cinema, talks, workshops, fashion and youth engagement.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos, Mr Laurent Favier, Consul-General of the French Embassy in Lagos, said France was honoured to support a high-quality tribute to Fela.
“France has always been a heartland for Fela Kuti, supporting not only his music but also his activism.
“In the 1980s, he struck a chord with the times and fascinated the French press, which was the first to talk about the ‘Fela phenomenon’.
“These ties continue with his talented family; Femi, Seun, Made, and others,” Favier said.
He explained that the exhibition was originally conceived by the Philharmonie de Paris – Cité de la Musique in 2022 and curated by French and Nigerian experts.
According to him, the Paris edition drew wide acclaim, attracting 60,000 visitors within a month.
“It was a true exercise in collective and intercultural intelligence, which enriched this Lagos edition.
“With more archives, resources and the strong involvement of the Kuti family, the experience promises to be even more dynamic,” he said.
In her remarks, Ms Onoshiokhue Ako, Project Lead, Culture Producer, Afrobeat Rebellion, said the exhibition seeks to create a cohesive experience that resonates across generations.
“For us, Afrobeat Rebellion is more than an exhibition.
“It is a living season of culture. We designed it tobridge generations: from the children creating in the Young Rebels’ Corner to the elders who remember Fela firsthand, and everyone in between.
Speaking on the essence of reimagining the exhibition, curator and founder of June Creative Art Advisory, Seun Alli, said that Fela was too often reduced to a handful of catchphrases and uninformed stories.
Ali said these included songs like “Zombie” and “Water No Get Enemy,” the Kalakuta fire, his marriage to 27 women, or the unfounded claim that he performed on stage in his underwear.
Fela’s son, Femi Kuti, appreciated the organisers for honouring his father.
“We are glad that Fela is still recognised, appreciated, and honoured. As the years went by, people still understood what he stood for,” he said. NAN
Fela Anikulapo Kuti...