French President, Macron To Visit Fela’s Afrika Shrine

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, will on Tuesday visit the New Afrika Shrine founded by Nigerian music icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

The shrine, located in Ikeja, capital city of Lagos, replaced Anikulapo-Kuti’s original club that was burnt down in 1977.

It serves as the host location of the annual Felabration music festival.

The Lagos state government, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Taiwo Salaam, said it will host Mr Macron at the shrine.

Macron, who is visiting the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott to attend the AU summit on Sunday, will join President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja to discuss issues on security and terrorism, after which he will head for Lagos.

Mr Macron is not a stranger to Nigeria. He trained as a senior civil servant at the French Embassy in Lagos in 2004, seven years after Fela died.

“The Shrine is a must-see place,” said Olivier Laouchez, head, TRACE media and entertainment group and organiser of the event Macron will attend.

The evening will feature concerts, fashion shows by leading African designers and a meeting with stars from Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry.

“There is clearly something abuzz in Lagos, with auctions mushrooming, and this will explode.

“The idea is to show the richness and diversity of African cultures.

“Europe does not know Africa or at least its cultural dimension,” said contemporary art specialist Marie-Cecile Zinsou.

Meanwhile, ahead of Mr Macron’s historic visit to Lagos, the state government announced that there would be traffic diversion and restricted movement from 12 noon to 12 midnight, on July 3 around the Alausa, African Shrine/Agidingbi axis.

“While we regret the inconvenience that this might cause the public, especially those who live and work in the area, we appeal that you kindly bear with us during this period and make use of the alternative routes provided,” Salaam said.

Afrika Shrine showcases photo galleries of Anikulapo-Kuti’ and features weekly shows by his son Femi Kuti, and sometimes Seun, thus making it a tourist attraction.