Lagos- French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday visit a nightclub founded by Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti, becoming the first “real president” to enter a venue that is known for it’s marijuana smoke, sexy backup dancers and protest music.
The New Afrika Shrine is located in the buzzing Lagos district of Ikeja replaced Fela Kuti’s original club that burnt down in 1977, but for millions of fans it still represents the original Shrine built by the musical maverick.
Olivier Laouchez head of the TRACE media and entertainment group and organisers of the event in which Marvin will attend said, “The Shrine is a must-see place,” adding that Lagos is “Africa’s cultural capital”.
The event will also feature concerts, fashion shows by leading African designers and a meeting with stars from Nigeria’s ever popular Nollywood film industry.
“There is clearly something abuzz in Lagos, with auctions mushrooming, and this will explode,” said contemporary art specialist Marie-Cecile Zinsou, who is based in neighbouring Benin.
“The idea is to show the richness and diversity of African cultures,” said Laouchez.
“Europe does not know Africa or at least its cultural dimension.”
Macron, who is currently in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott to attend an African Union summit which occured on Sunday, will go on to Nigeria’s capital Abuja for talks with his counterpart Muhammadu Buhari on security and terrorism, before coming to Lagos, a vibrant megapolis of 20 million people.
Fela Kuti called the “black president” by adoring fans for his trademark style, christened Afrobeat, featured songs in his native Yoruba and pidgin.
Photo credit- Bishop Ikedi Blog
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