The profile of Felabration keeps growing every year. The 2015 edition is gearing up to be the biggest yet.
The weeklong music event – an annual festival of music, culture and arts that commemorates the life and times of Nigeria’s foremost musical icon, the late great Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, is undoubtedly growing to become Nigeria’s response to world music festivals, such as Britain’s globally famous Glastonbury music festival that features visitors that span the length of Latin America and Asia’s Far East.
The 2015 edition is already proving to be more fun than people bargained for, as the festival continues to throw up surprises.
Here are our top 5 reasons why this one is a must-go. (We give credit to thenet.ng for some of the points):
1. The festival is arguably the single most star-studded event in Africa. It will feature the best entertainers in Nigeria, and they are performing for free to show their respect for our musical icon.
Among the performers are such A-Listers as Olamide, Mavin All Stars, Wiz Kid, Phyno, Burna Boy, MI, Iyanya, Ice Prince, Wande Coal, Yemi Alade, Eva, Cynthia Morgan, Timi Dakolo, Olu Maintain, Naeto C, Oritshefemi, Emma Nyra, Seyi Shay, Black Magic, Kiss Daniels, Bez, even all the way back as Daddy Showkey. Also, comedians like Nigeria’s Youtube star Falz ‘the bad guy’ will be there… you get the point.
Majek Fashek, the Rain Maker even made his comeback performance at the event
2. Felabration is the place of pilgrimage for fans of Afrobeat music, and those who love and respect Fela all around the world. It will be prove a valuable networking opportunity for those who share this interest and feeling.
3. Sandra Izsadore, Fela’s American friend, lover and mentor, is here for this year’s celebration.
4. 75-year-old Leni Sinclair, the American photographer who shot the iconic photo of Fela in Detroit, is also in town
- At the New African shrine will be different Art and Culture artifacts. On display at the event will be paintings, sculptures, native clothes (including Dashiki shirts), and both seen and previously unseen pictures of the Legendary Icon himself.
Although “The Shrine” has a record for sporting people of all kinds, to whom Fela showed his love, safety and security around the premises have been promised to ensure the safety of attendees. Hence no safety risk is apparent.
However, one should be prepared to tolerate the fumes from hemp, which was actually Fela’s favorite herb.
