The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Afrika Shrine

  • Get involved in politics, Macron tells Nigerian youths

    President of France, Emmanuel Macron has told Nigerian youths to be actively involved in the nation’s politics in order to change the narrative of the nation.

    Describing politics as important, the French president said only Nigerians could change their image and that of the nation before the comity of nations.

    Macron who was accompanied by governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state, threw the challenge during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, on Tuesday night at an event tagged “Celebrate African Culture”.

    He noted that the future of Africa and the task of making it great rested with Africans, stressing that the youths has a crucial role to play in the quest.

    “Africa needs a new generation of Africans to share the new narrative about Africa all over the world,” he said.

    Read Also:Why I chose to visit Afrika Shrine in Lagos – President Macron

    According to him, politics is important because it is a tool to change the society. He described the Afrika Shrine as an iconic place of strength, music, culture and the late Fela, as a politician who wanted change for the society.

    “I am very happy to be here. Let me remind you that this place — Shrine is a music place as well as politics, which is needed to change the society. So, I will say to the youths, politics is important, be involved,” he said.

    “The Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and it is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognize the importance of this place, I recognize the place of culture in this current environment.”

    Macron also announced the launch of the 2020 African Cultures Season in France. He said the event would help create a unique face for African culture in Europe.

    “I discovered Nigeria and a lot of my friends are here. I discovered Lagos and I discovered the shrine. This place is an iconic place and it is a place where the best of music is given. I have to say my main memories about this place are friends, proud people, proud of their culture, proud of their art and music. I have a very different view of Africa than a lot of other people in Europe,” he said.

    Macron stressed the need for Africa and Europe, especially France to build a new commonality, adding that “this new commonality is not based on what is important for Europeans but what is important for Africa, about their culture, how they build their culture and promote the culture and which places are important for them about their culture. Being here, I do recognize their culture and respect their views. This place is important for Africa and their culture and that is why I am here.”

    The African Cultural Season 2020 in France which will be hosted by his country he said, would be about promoting African culture in Europe, adding that the event was going to be for Africa and by African artistes.

    “It will include people with fashion, African movies, new generation of artistes will be coming from Africa and it will be organized by them to show Europe and France” the real culture of Africa.

    “The event will be financed by African leaders. It will not be sponsored by France or European businesses, but by African businesses, it is brand new. This season is a unique one and it will be the new face of Africa in Europe organize by Africans, providing what you like and what you have here,” he said.

    Earlier, Governor Ambode said the President’s visit was expected to signal the dawn of a new collaboration between France and Lagos state in the quest to make the state the culture and entertainment capital of Africa.

    Ambode said the event was also about celebrating African culture, which was a positive step for France as it sought to rebuild its relationship with Africa.

    There were also Art Exhibition, Fashion Show, display of Nollywood scenes, presentation of a painting of Fela to Macron by Governor Ambode as well as pencil frame artwork of Macron done by 11-old old Kareem Olamilekan drawn within two hours.

    Highpoints of the night include sterling performances by dance group, Footprints of David, music artistes, Yemi Alade, Charlotte Dipanda from Kenya and a scintillating performance by Femi Kuti to bring the event to a close.

    The event presented an opportunity for Macron and Ambode to interact with musicians, artists, fashion designers and film makers.

    The event had in attendance personalities which include Dr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra; Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun; Prof. Wole Soyinka, Sen. Ben Bruce, among others.

     

  • Why I chose to visit Afrika Shrine in Lagos – President Macron

    President Emmanuel Macron of France attributed his decision to visit the Afrika Shrine in Lagos to his nostalgia for the good memories of the iconic place.

    The President stated this while reacting to questions after a closed door bilateral talks with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    It is believed that Macron would become the first “real president” to enter the Afrika Shrine synonymous with marijuana smoke, sexy backup dancers and protest music.

    The French President, who was trained as a senior civil servant at the French Embassy in Lagos in 2004, seven years after Fela died, described the Shrine as a cultural and iconic hub.

    Macron, who `confessed’ that he was not a stranger to the club, said he recognised the Shrine as an importance place for lovers of African culture.

    “First, because I wanted to find a good occasion to come back there. I know the place and I have some memories,

    “I have to confess at a time that there was no president around, I hope I will not spoil the party.

    “I think that is such an iconic place for a lot of African people and African culture.

    “And I think very often when you speak of the African culture in Europe, those who succeeded in Europe and in France, which is different most of the times, are not dramatically very famous in Nigeria or in Africa.

    “And there is a bias because you know people are absolutely not the same. I mean Fela, Femi, Seun Kuti are obviously very famous in France and Europe,

    “I mean they are big successes but the Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognise the importance of this place, I recognise the place of culture in this current environment,’’ he said.

    President Macron expressed the readiness of French government to promote sport and cultural relations between Nigeria and France to address the problem of unemployment among youths in both countries.

    According to him, African Cultural Season to be hosted in France in 2020 will be inaugurated at the African Shrine tonight, while French sport initiative will be launched in Lagos on Wednesday.

    He said the African Cultural Season which would provide new opportunities to youths, was being financed by the private sector in Nigeria.

    Also speaking on the scheduled visit of French President to the Shrine, President Buhari described it as a very good idea.

    “Of course it is a very good idea and that is why the shrine survives. If it were not good idea people would have forgotten about it since the death of Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    “People institutionalised it because they value it and that keeps the young men and women very busy”.(NAN)

  • Afrika Shrine: Macron to perform with Omotola, Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah, others

    The choice of the New Afrika Shrine as rendezvous for visiting President of France, Mr. Emmanuel Macron members of the creative industry may not be unconnected to the historical place of late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in the world of music.

    While raising concern about the size of the Afrika Shrine as venue of his meeting with stakeholders in the arts and entertainment sector, a source told The Nation that “Macron chose the venue himself.”

    Currently managed by Femi Kuti and Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, the new Afrika Shrine is the replacement of the old Afrika Shrine created in 1970 by the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, founder of Afrobeat music, until it was burnt down in 1977. The new Shrine is an open air entertainment center located in Ikeja, Lagos State, and serves as the host location for the annual Felabration music festival. It is a tourist attraction that showcases photo galleries of Fela, with regular music performances by Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti.

    Macron is expected to land in Abuja and meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly before being hosted in Lagos.

    He will be at the Shrine for an event organised by the Lagos State government, with full participation by members of the Nigerian creative sector.

    Culture’, the event has been planned as ‘an evening of Music, Fashion, Nollywood, Dance, Visual Arts, Performance and Design with The President of France, Emmanuel Macron’.

    Expected to perform on the night is Afrobeat artiste, Femi Kuti, and others singers like Banky W and Yemi Aladem just as ace filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan and founder of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude, will make special presentations to Macron on the Nigerian arts and entertainment industry and CineAfrique, a Nigeria/France film institute in Lagos respectively.

    The presentation by Afolayan – a short stage play titled ‘Love from Lagos’, featuring Macron himself, will have other thespians like Jide Kosoko, Joke Silva, Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya), Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ramsey Nouah, Caroline King, Dakore Akande, Rita Dominic, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Kemi Lala-Akindoju and another French actor.

    The visit is expected to open a new vista of opportunity for both countries in the area of film funding and co-production treaties.

    As part of his visit, Macron is scheduled to commission a new centre of the Alliance Francaise in Lagos, on Wednesday.

    The Wednesday’s event kicks off by 9 a.m. with the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, top government officials, members of the diplomatic community, captains of industry and cultural ambassadors, amongst other dignitaries in attendance.

    The purpose-build edifice, located at No.9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos will serve as the organisation’s headquarters in Nigeria. Tastefully furnished, the mansion is also aesthetically finished with an expansive car park complete with a comely ambience and luxuriant flower beds and trees.

    Alliance française, a French language and cultural center has 10 associations throughout Nigeria and located in Enugu, Ibadan, Ilorin, Jos, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Maiduguri, Owerri and Port Harcourt.

  • Afrika Shrine to host France President Macron

    The Afrika Shrine, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos will tomorrow play host to the visiting president of France, Mr. Emmanuel Macron.

    Macron is expected to land in Abuja and meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly before being hosted in Lagos.

    He will visit the Shrine for an event organised by the Lagos State government alongside stakeholders in the Nigerian creative sector.

    Afrobeat artiste, Femi Kuti, and others singers like Banky W and Yemi Alade have been billed to perform at the strictly-by-invitation event, in which governor Akinwunmi Ambode would be in attendance.

    The visit is expected to open a new vista of opportunity for both countries in the area of film funding and co-production treaties. Olumide Iyanda, who edited Cinema in Lagos magazine will introduce Nollywood to President Macron while ace filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan and founder of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude, will make special presentations to Macron on the Nigerian arts and entertainment industry.

    Macron is also expected to unveil a new Alliance Française school in Nigeria during his visit.

  • Waje in One campaign visit to New Afrika Shrine

    Waje in One campaign visit to New Afrika Shrine

    What Aituaje Iruobe, stage name Waje, is a Nigerian superstar is not in doubt. However, the diva has crossed over to the world stage; not with her music, but with her humanitarian efforts via the One Campaign; a non-profit organisation with a mandate to fight world poverty.

    In her submission about the effect of the work of Femi Kuti on younger musicians, Waje said, “It is so amazing to be part of this entertainment industry where you are not afraid to say the things you need you to say, so that when we open our mouths, we know we have someone pushing us from behind. We may never meet you, (some of us have never met you, some have, some have never even sat down to have conversations with you).But we know that there is a path we should follow because you want your community, and the people that associate with you to understand the concept of living, and making sure that your community gets the best.”

    Waje was part of the One team at the meet and greet session between Irish born Rock superstar; Bono, and Afrobeat star, Femi Kuti that held last Thursday at the new Afrika shrine. Bono, who is a Knight of the British Empire (OBE), was on a brief visit to Nigeria in association with his work with One; an organisation he cofounded.

    Waje says that her involvement with the campaign stems from her belief in women’s empowerment, and girl child education, as a way of eradicating poverty. “In Africa, there is a saying that ‘when you educate a boy you educate an individual, but when you educate a girl, you educate generations,” she said.

    A face of the Strong Girls Campaign, which is part of the One Campaign in Nigeria, she is involved in an ongoing campaign in Nigeria tagged “Poverty is Sexist”. It urges world leaders to take speedy action against denying girls education, being forced into marriage; avoid mothers risking their lives when they give birth; and to stop the farmer from being prevented from owning the land she works in.