Nseobong Okon-Ekong
30 August 2008
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The annual festivity to entrench the memory of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who passed on 11 years ago comes up this year between October 14 and 19.
Much of the events will be held at the New Afrika Shrine. Yeni Kuti, spokesperson for the event told Glitz Adventure that proceedings will begin with Afrobeat bands Tuesday featuring Femi and Seun Kuti and other Afrobeat musicians. Wednesday is ladies night. The older musicians will take their turn on Thursday featuring the likes of King Sunny Ade, Victor Uwaifo, Fatai Rolling Dollar and Victor Olaiya. It is essentially a highlife affair-a genre of music that Fela started with before he evolved his peculiar brand known as Afrobeat. The night is tagged 'Classic Night'.
The new generation of artistes will honour Fela's memory on Friday at a show tagged 'Hip Hop Night Thank God for Fela'. Artistes billed to perform include Olu Maintain, Sasha, Ikechukwu, 2Face, Weird MC and Marvellous Benji among others. The entire event is planned in conjunction with organisations like Silverbird, a UN agency known as 'Say No to Poverty' and Nigezee.
Like last year, when the late Lucky Dube performed for a mammoth crowd at the New Afrika Shrine, there will be a formidable presence of international artistes. Those who have indicated interest are Talib Kwali who was in Nigeria a while ago to shoot his latest video at the New Afrika Shrine, Common, Erykah Badu and Mos Def. Yeni showed this Correspondent a record of letters between the organisers of the show and the foreign artistes.
According to Yeni the foreign artistes have agreed to perform free of charge. "We are only going to pay their transport fares to and from Nigeria, feed and accommodate them. They know we can not afford their fees. They are doing it for the love of Fela".
Meanwhile, Seun Kuti and Fela's Egypt 80 band are back in the country after a 13-show world tour across Europe, Canada and the United States.
The tour was to promote Seun's debut album titled "Many Things" released in Europe by a French recording label. Other tracks in the album are 'Think Africa', 'Don't Give Me That Shit to Me' and 'African Problems'. Aside 'Fire Dance', all the tracks in the album have political undertone.
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