Afrobeat Legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Posthumously Honoured in Paris

 

The Paris Philharmonic on Thursday the 20th of October posthumously honoured the Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti by recreating his nightclub, Afrika Shrine (established in the 70s), kind of atmosphere ahead of an immersive exhibition. 

While acknowledging the much appreciated gesture which isn't the first of its kind, Olufela (the 3rd) Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti a.k.a Femi Kuti, said music was the only weapon his father had to fight the oppressive military government in Nigeria at the time. 

In 2014, a weekend event in both Brooklyn and Harlem was held by BRIC, a nonprofit arts and media group to pay tribute to his enduring legacy with 'Fela Frolic' ( a free family-friendly activities), 'Finding Fela' (a documentary) and 'Fela' (a music concert).

While the shrine of old became a beacon for global stars in the 70s including Stevie Wonders and Paul McCartney who graced Fela's counter-festival to the one the government organized dubbed FESTAC 77, the New Afrika Shrine is a hub of entertainment and relaxation. It's also where President Macron of France visited when he came to Nigeria and where the popular yearly week-long Afrobeat music festival takes place.

Fela Kuti was harassed throughout much of his life with frequent trips to prison before dying of AIDS in 1997 at 58 but his pioneering work remains as potent as ever. Little wonder many hip-hop artistes both local and foreign like Wizkid, Burnaboy, Beyonce and Jay-Z etc. sample his beat.