LAGOS, NIGERIA — On Sunday, October 12, 2025, Fela Anikulapo Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion opens in Lagos at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, bringing the acclaimed retrospective home in an expanded, community driven format that merges art exhibition with performances, film, workshops, and children’s programming.
Originally developed by the Philharmonie de Paris, the Lagos edition is reimagined by A Whitespace Creative Arts (AWCA) Foundation with immense support from the French Embassy in Nigeria, and the Kuti Family
“Our 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. the archives. Not just to remember Fela, but to inspire a new generation to use art as resistance and freedom..” — Kuti Family
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 Afrobeat’s 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).
“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.”
— Laurent Favier, Consul General of France in Lagos
WHY LAGOS? WHY NOW?
Lagos is Afrobeat’s birthplace: the city of Kalakuta, the Afrika Shrine, and the streets that forged Fela’s sound and stance. Bringing Afrobeat Rebellion here is a homecoming that anchors a global story in the place that shaped it, meeting older Nigerians who lived it, younger audiences rediscovering it, and international visitors who travel for it. In a moment when Lagos is recognized as a cultural capital, this edition lets people experience Fela’s ideas in the city he sang about, challenged, and loved.
“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.”
— Seun Alli, Exhibition Curator, Founder JCAA
THE EXHIBITION
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
EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
• Dates & Venue — October 12–December 28, 2025 • Ecobank Pan African Centre, Lagos. Exhibition open Fri–Sun (10:00–18:00); dedicated VIP/Institutional Thursdays. General admission is free; RSVP required for limited-capacity programmes. Ticketing via luma.
• 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
THE LEGACY PROGRAMMES
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, 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.
• Workshops & Interactive Programmes:
• 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.
“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.”
— Onoshiokhue Ako, Project Lead, Culture Producer, AWCA
The retrospective Fela Kuti exhibition runs from 12 October to 28 December 2025 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre.
Access & Booking — Exhibition entry is free (Fri–Sun). RSVP required for talks, workshops, cinema (capacity limited).
For more information, visit afrobeatrebellion.com or contact fela@folapr.com
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN NIGERIA
The French Embassy in Nigeria fosters strong Franco-Nigerian relations by supporting innovative cultural, scientific, audiovisual, academic, and linguistic initiatives through its cultural network. Its Cultural Department, based in Lagos, leads efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s creative industries by developing programmes and partnerships in music, fashion, cinema, animation, video games, museums and heritage, visual arts, etc. under the broader direction of Abuja. Afrobeat Rebellion is a flagship collaboration funded by the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture through its “Alternative Nigerian Heritages.
PHILHARMONIE DE PARIS
A leading European cultural institution, the Philharmonie hosts over 500 concerts and three major exhibitions annually. Its 2022–2023 Fela retrospective drew international praise and is now reimagined in Lagos.
A WHITESPACE CREATIVE ARTS (AWCA) FOUNDATION
A Lagos-based foundation dedicated to empowering young artists through experimentation, capacity-building, and cultural preservation. Known for projects like the Big Sixty Arts Festival, AWCA is the lead producer of Afrobeat Rebellion in Lagos.
ECOBANK
The Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos is a dynamic hub dedicated to fostering collaboration, innovation, and leadership across Africa’s financial and business sectors. As a center for thought leadership, it hosts conferences, forums, and training programs that empower professionals, SMEs, and industry leaders.
THE KUTI FAMILY
As custodians of Fela’s legacy, the family remains central to ensuring the exhibition’s authenticity and resonance.
PRESS CONTACTS
Joy Teddy
Senior PR Manager, FOLA PR
joy@folapr.com
Omotola Saba
PR Coordinator, FOLA PR
omotola@folapr.com
