Topic: Nigeria

Countdown to Felabration Continues!

Felabrations around the world are beginning to get ready for the annual festival of music and arts commemorating the life and times of Nigerian’s foremost musical icon, the late great Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The idea and concept of Felabration as an annual celebration of Fela’s music, life and times, originated from his eldest child Yeni who conceived it in 1998. The world’s largest Felabration will take place in Nigeria at the New Afrika Shrine (Ikeja) this year in just a few days! The massive week-long festival begins on Monday October 12 and is preceded by this year’s senior secondary schools debate on the topic “Poverty is not an Accident” and the October 12th debates on the topic “Human Rights as My Property.”

Felabration in London is spearheaded by the British Library’s “Late at the Library: Felabration!” with a sold out show for October 16th! Stay tuned for more information about a live streaming event right here on Fela.net!

Felabrations across the US have also been announced including the following shows:

10/13-10/17 – Atlanta, GA – Multiple Venues – Spreadlove – Felabration
10/15 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East
10/16 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
10/16 – San Francisco, CA – Brick and Mortar
10/16 – Washington, DC – Old Engine 12 Firehouse
10/17 – Oakland, CA – The New Parish
10/17 – Brooklyn, NY – X Marks The Lot
10/18 – Chicago, IL – The Shrine
10/23 – Houston, TX – The Flat
10/30 – Chicago, IL – Maria’s

Please visit an event and show your FELAdarity!

Femi Kuti Welcomes Bono To The New Afrika Shrine

Femi Kuti and Bono talk history and origins of The New Afrika Shrine backstage during the ONE Organisations visit on Thursday. After Femi’s rousing performance, Femi and Bono talk about the legacy of the land on which the Shrine now stands and the obstacles that the Shrine has overcome and ultimately how the music brings the people. “AMEN!” – Bono.

See behind the scenes footage here and stay tuned for more behind the scenes footage!

The Right To Choose Your Own Sexuality is a Human Right’ by Femi Kuti

Fela’s son, Femi, responded to the recent anti-gay legislation in Nigeria.

In the wake of the recently passed “anti-gay” law by our government and President Goodluck Jonathan, there has been much speculation online as to how Fela Kuti, my father, would react. So let us get this clear, and I will also express my own views on the matter.

My father would not support this law. He would know why the law was passed: as a way of distracting the population from the main problems we face today – poverty, lack of electricity and services, corruption, mismanagement, and so on and so forth.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE