A new landmark exhibition celebrating the life, music, and legacy of the “King of Afrobeat,” Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has opened in Lagos, Nigeria’s vibrant cultural capital.
Titled “Afrobeat Rebellion,” the exhibition is organised by the French Embassy in collaboration with the Kuti family. It builds on a similar show first held in Paris in 2022 and coincides with the annual Felabration Festival, a week-long celebration of Fela’s life held every October.
“The Paris exhibition was incredible, but having it here at home feels truly special,” said Papa Omotayo, a Nigerian architect and one of the key organisers. “We were also able to gather more local artefacts from collectors here in Lagos.”
The exhibition, which opened on Sunday evening, is designed as an immersive, multi-sensory journey through Fela’s world. It recreates his legendary Kalakuta Republic commune and the famous Afrika Shrine, blending archival photos, personal items, video installations, and of course, the powerful sound of Afrobeat.
Fela’s Musical and Political Legacy
In the 1970s, Fela Kuti — a multi-instrumentalist, performer, and fearless activist — pioneered Afrobeat, an explosive mix of jazz, funk, and traditional African rhythms. The genre has since evolved into Afrobeats, a more pop-influenced sound that has propelled Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, and Rema to global fame.
Beyond music, Fela was a revolutionary thinker and outspoken critic of corruption, dictatorship, and inequality. His activism and Pan-African ideals often brought him into conflict with Nigeria’s military rulers, resulting in multiple arrests and brutal raids on his home.
One of the most infamous incidents occurred in 1978, when soldiers attacked his house, set it ablaze, and threw his mother — the renowned feminist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti — from a window.
“Fela is celebrated abroad like a saint, but here at home, many still don’t recognise his true value,” said Mabinuori Kayode Idowu, a close friend of the late musician.
A Tribute to a Complex Icon
Nearly three decades after his death in 1997, Fela is finally receiving official recognition, with the Lagos State Government lending its support to the exhibition.
“He wasn’t perfect and he wasn’t one-dimensional,” said Omotayo. “This exhibition digs deep into different sides of his personality and philosophy.”
Visitors have described the show as emotional and eye-opening.
“It’s like watching history come alive,” said Chidimma Nwankwo, a tourism and culture advocate. “I even learned that Fela and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka are related through their grandmother.”
For Yeni Kuti, Fela’s eldest daughter and current manager of the New Afrika Shrine, the exhibition is a way to inspire the younger generation who never experienced her father’s music firsthand.
“Work hard, be resilient, and you will be remembered,” she said, echoing her father’s enduring message.
Even decades after his passing, Fela’s vision for a freer, fairer Nigeria remains relevant.
“It’s no longer a military era, but there’s still a lot to do to make Nigeria the country Fela dreamed of,” Yeni added.
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