Nearly three decades after his death in 1997, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti remains one of Nigeria’s greatest musicians. Famous for pairing his music with human rights activism, he stood against dictatorship and oppression. The legacy of his defiant spirit, music and its impact on culture, lives on to this day. ALAO ABIODUN writes about the upcoming 12-week long art exhibition in his honour reimagined by Whitespace Creative Arts (AWCA) Foundation in partnership with French Embassy in Nigeria, and the Kuti Family.
Afrobeats pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti didn’t just play music; he lived it. Fela is revered for creating the Afrobeat sound, drawing from diverse Afro-musical inspirations and genres. But, it wasn’t just about the beats — Fela’s lyrics, forged in Pidgin English, were often scathing critiques of corruption, oppression, and colonialism. He used his music as a weapon and his stage as a battleground.
Recently, Fela was inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his classic 1976 album, Zombie. He is the first Nigerian artiste to receive the honour. The Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, announced the inclusion in this year’s Hall of Fame selections.
The Zombie album merited the honour for the late Afrobeat icon and his family as part of the nominated works released for the past 25 years, not recent musical works.
It was released in Nigeria under Coconut Records in 1976 and in the UK by Creole Records in 1977. The classic album is now in the league of other notable musical works that earned the Grammy Hall of Fame induction. Other albums from Jay-Z, Michael Jackson, Santana, and Cat Stevens have since been included in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Fela’s presence and his legacy has been honoured continuously over the years through contemporary showcases and exhibitions from Lagos to London, Germany, Brazil, France, Egypt and other countries.
This time around, Fela Anikulapo Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion comes home. It will open in Lagos at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in October, bringing the acclaimed retrospective home in an expanded, community-driven format that merges art exhibition with performances, film, workshops, and children’s programming.
At the press conference held recently, the organisers disclosed that the exhibition which is free and open to the general public, will kick off on October 12th and ends on December 28th in Lagos.
It had in attendance: Laurent Favier, Consul General of the French Embassy; Emmanuelle Harang, Cultural Attaché of the French Embassy; The Kuti Family consisting Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Made Kuti; Papa Omotayo, Creative Director, AWCA; Onoshiokhue Ako, AWCA Project Lead; Seun Alli, Curator, JCAA; Omoboye Odu, Ecobank representative.
Designed as an immersive journey through Fela’s life, music, and radical ideas, the exhibition layers archival objects, photography, soundscapes, and media installations that reconstruct spaces from Kalakuta to the Afrika Shrine—alongside an interactive global map of influence and furthers its programming to include a weekly “Legacy Programmes” calendar (talks, live music, studio sessions, cinema, children activities)
This edition adds to the rich history of Fela exhibitions in Lagos, standing out for its unprecedented scale and ambition: it is the first to combine the curatorial depth of an internationally acclaimed European retrospective with the authenticity of a Lagos reimagining. More than an exhibition, it is a 12-week cultural programme designed to immerse audiences across generations and place Lagos at the centre of Afrobeats global story.
First staged at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2022, the exhibition was hailed as “a revolutionary tribute” (Euronews), “an echo of Fela’s unrelenting voice against oppression” (Radio France), and “a reminder that his Afrobeat remains as urgent as ever” (Slate).
At the heart of Afrobeat Rebellion is a multi-room, archive-led experience that traces Fela’s musical and political trajectory through objects, photographs, film, and sound. Visitors move from early years to Lagos life, Kalakuta Republic, and the Afrika Shrine, with interactive spaces that connect his work to global movements
Speaking on why the exhibition will hold in Lagos, Seun Alli, Exhibition Curator, Founder JCAA said: “Too often, Fela is reduced to a handful of catchphrases and uninformed stories – Zombie, Water No Get Enemy, the Kalakuta fire, marrying 27 women, or even the unfounded claim that he performed on stage in his underwear.
“Curating Afrobeat Rebellion in Lagos is a deliberate refusal of this flattening. It aims to reposition Fela not merely as a musician or rebel, but as a public intellectual whose music and philosophy are deeply intertwined with Africa’s social, political, and intellectual histories.
“His work was never just style or spectacle; it was a catalyst of revolt and hope, the soundtrack for those living under oppression, corruption, and the daily failures of power.
“Nearly three decades after his passing, it remains a profound mystery how Abami Eda’s philosophy continues to resonate so powerfully across all facets of our shared human experience.”
According to Laurent Favier, Consul-General of the French Embassy in Lagos, he said: “Supporting the Afrobeat Rebellion in Lagos reflects our belief that culture is a bridge. It is a logical and welcome follow-up to the successful exhibition in Paris.
“This project is both a celebration of Franco- Nigerian collaboration and a cultural gift, honoring Fiela’s legacy – who was very appreciated in France while deepening the dialogue between our two nations.”
Favier said France was honoured to support a high-quality tribute to Fela.
“France has always been a heartland for Fela Kuti, supporting not only his music but also his activism. In the 1980s, he struck a chord with the times and fascinated the French press, which was the first to talk about the ‘Fela phenomenon’
“These ties continue with his talented family; Femi, Seun, Made, and others,” Favier said.
He explained that the exhibition was originally conceived by the Philharmonie de Paris – Cité de la Musique in 2022 and curated by French and Nigerian experts. According to him, the Paris edition drew wide acclaim, attracting 60,000 visitors within a month.
“It was a true exercise in collective and intercultural intelligence, which enriched this Lagos edition. With more archives, resources and the strong involvement of the Kuti family, the experience promises to be even more dynamic.” he said.
For Kuti Family, they unanimously agreed that their father’s legacy has travelled the world, but Lagos was always its heartbeat.
“Afrobeat Rebellion brings things unseen, his music, and everything Fela stood for to his people in Lagos. Not just to remember Fela, but to inspire a new generation to use art as resistance and freedom,” the family said.
Fela’s son, Femi Kuti, appreciated the organisers for honouring his father.
“We are glad that Fela is still recognised, appreciated, and honoured. As the years went by, people still understood what he stood for,” he said.
According to the organisers, the exhibition highlights are as follows: “Opening Night — Sun, Oct 12: First viewing + performances featuring Ezra Collective and Seun Kuti; The Exhibition (Afrobeat Rebellion) — Archival rooms spanning Fela’s Early Years, Lagos Life, Kalakuta Republic, Afrika Shrine, Library & Jukebox, Life on Tour, Legacy, Mapping Fela.
“Legacy Programmes — Weekly live music, The Talks panels, Kalakuta Cinema, Studio Sessions, Young Rebels Corner (6–15), workshops, and city-facing activations.”
Beyond the exhibition walls, Afrobeat Rebellion will unfold as a living festival of culture: “The Talks — a 10-topic series on Fela’s ideas and impact with leading voices from Yeni Kuti to Prof. Oyeronke Oyewumi, Femi Falana, Ade Bantu, Minna Salami, and Kadaria Ahmed, exploring themes such as The Unfiltered Fela, Afrobeat In The Making, Fela’s musical evolution, and much more.
“Live Music — Opening night with Ezra Collective and Seun Kuti, to performances by Femi and Made Kuti, and collaborations with contemporary artists and industry players, and producers like Sodi Marciszewer, Chike, A, YKB, and Vaedar, the sound of Afrobeat will be celebrated and reinterpreted.
“Kalakuta Cinema — A 6-week film series featuring classics like Music Is a Weapon, The Lost Okoroshi, Mami Wata, Timbuktu, and Finding Fela. Screenings will take place in relaxed communal spaces and traditional settings every other Sunday; Book reading with Karatu — book titles include: Kalakuta Republic (Chimurenga) + select speeches, Dis Fela Sef! By Benson Idonije, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, and Arrest the Music by Tejumola Olaniyan –
“Young Rebels’ Corner — An interactive creative space for children aged 6–15 with activities like the Rebel Scrapbook, Jam Station, and Anikulapo Design Workshop. Every child leaves with a Rebel Name and ID card, a symbolic passport into the world of protest and creativity.
The workshops and interactive programmes will feature: “Manifesto: The Weapon of the Future (a zine-making writing workshop); Òrò Abamì Spoken Word Competition; Dance of Resistance (movement workshops led by The Mud Art Company)
Together, these programmes make Afrobeat Rebellion not just an exhibition, but an immersive cultural season for Lagos and the world.
According to Onoshiokhue Ako, Project Lead, Culture Producer, AWCA, the exhibition seeks to create a cohesive experience that resonates across generations.
Ako appreciated the Kuti family for their invaluable support and contributions to the project.
“For us, Afrobeat Rebellion is more than an exhibition. It is a living season of culture. We designed it to bridge generations: from the children creating in the Young Rebels’ Corner to the elders who remember Fela firsthand, and everyone in between.
“Our programmes are grounded yet far-reaching, and Lagos deserves nothing less than a homecoming of this magnitude.
“We thank the Philharmonie de Paris for their deep reverence for Fela’s music. They pioneered this significant cultural exhibition, which has now expanded into what we have here.
“To Ecobank, our host and home for three months, we are grateful. You stand as a true African centre, a home and a symbol of the continent’s cultural and economic ambition,” she said.
Fela wasn’t just a musician; he was a force of nature, a revolutionary, and a voice for the voiceless. No doubt, the impact of Fela who died on August 2, 1997 at the age of 58 would continue to reverberate globally.
