Felabration 2015 begins

As is the case every year the weeklong event is designed to include Fela’s October 15 birthday within its run. Had the afrobeat beat musician lived to see this year, he would have turned 77—a number with particular resonance for the man. As it was in 1977, the Nigerian army invaded his Kalakuta Republic. The incident led to the death of his mother. Fela himself suffered broken bones from assault.

Indeed, the 2015 Felabration kicked off with a play capturing the incident. Titled Fela Son of Kuti and staged by actors from the University of Lagos, the play was staged at the Shrine on the eve of the 2015 event proper. A repeat enactment follows during the program itself.

A line-up of renowned local and foreign musicians have been announced as performers this year. They include Vector, Timaya, Show Dem Camp, Boj, Temi Dollface and Adekunle Gold. Wizkid, Oritshe Femi, Olamide, Waje, Ill Bliss, Brymo, Black Magic and Reminisce will also perform at the event. From outside of Nigeria, the festival will host Jamaican reggae band Third World and the London Afrobeat collective.

Felabration has held since the 1997 death of the afrobeat originator maestro, the exception being 1999. The event welcomes afrobeat lovers the world over.

For more information on the 2015 event visit the Felabration website here.