Afrobeat Rebellion Exhibition: An Epic Rebirth of Fela’s Legacy

Yinka Olatunbosun

An immersive experience that weaves together archival objects, photography, soundscapes, and media installations to recreate iconic spaces like the Kalakuta Republic and Afrika Shrine marked a rebirth of the legacy of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in a show that stunned Lagos audience last weekend.

Christened ‘The Afrobeat Rebellion Exhibition,’ the experience was a powerful artistic statement and tribute to Fela’s enduring legacy, showcasing his revolutionary spirit and profound impact on music, activism, and African identity.

Tailored to bridge generations, the exhibition inspires a new wave of thinkers to tap into Fela’s powerful message of resistance and freedom through a multisensory experience. Through its diverse programming that included live music performances, film screenings, and workshops, Afrobeat Rebellion reaffirms Fela’s significance as a musician, public intellectual, and cultural visionary.

Featuring artefacts such as rare costumes, recordings, and unseen footage presented by A Whitespace Creative Arts (AWCA) Foundation in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nigeria, the Kuti family, and the Philharmonie de Paris, this touring exhibition is a sheer product of ingenious thinking.

The Lagos edition, which opened on October 12, 2025, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, is divided into ten thematic sections, each capturing an aspect of Fela’s complex persona and enduring influence.

The opening night drew a vibrant mix of artists, diplomats, cultural figures, and Fela’s family members. Hosted by Folu Storms, the evening featured performances by Ezra Collective and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, with goodwill messages from Laurent Favier, French Ambassador to Nigeria, and a representative of the Lagos State Governor. The symbolic ribbon-cutting was led by members of the Kuti family, Ecobank representatives, and officials of the Lagos State Government.

Inside the exhibition halls, guests embarked on a multi-sensory journey through Fela’s world from rare recordings and archival photographs to immersive reconstructions of Kalakuta Republic and the Afrika Shrine.

Seun Alli, exhibition curator and founder of JCAA, in a press statement, remarked: “Too often, Fela is reduced to a handful of catchphrases and uninformed stories. 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.”

Representing the French Embassy, Ambassador Favier added: “Supporting the Afrobeat Rebellion in Lagos reflects our belief that culture is a bridge. This project is both a celebration of Franco-Nigerian collaboration and a cultural gift, honoring Fela’s legacy while deepening the dialogue between our two nations.”

The colourful opening ended in true Fela fashion, with rhythm, movement, and communion as the crowd danced – giving a rousing toast to the resilience of Afrobeat.

The Lagos edition of Afrobeat Rebellion follows the successful inaugural show held in Paris in 2022. The festival is slated to run from October 12 to December 28, 2025, the 12-week exhibition includes side programs such as The Talks, Kalakuta Cinema, Young Rebels’ Corner, and live performances by Femi and Made Kuti, among others.

Explaining the concept, Papa Omotayo, co-founder of AWCA, described the Lagos edition as more than an art showcase, “We have been working in the cultural space for a decade, asking how we can create space to engage the next generation in the legacy of what it means to be Nigerian and creative. Bringing the Afrobeat Rebellion here extends beyond just an exhibition, it’s an immersive program that builds capacity and new knowledge.”

Omotayo added that the exhibition’s ten sections begin with Fela’s early life and family roots, then move through “Lagos Baby,” which highlights the city’s role in shaping his art and activism. Visitors can also experience Fela’s daily life, including his time in Kalakuta Republic, his political struggles, and his powerful network of women, the queens whose strength and independence remain part of Nigeria’s feminist legacy today.

In her remarks, Yeni Aníkúlápó Kútì expressed pride in her father’s legacy. She said “I am proud of my father and proud to be a Kuti. It’s a testimonial to hard work. Fela has been dead 27 years, yet it’s as if he never left. When we say ‘Fela lives forever,’ this is what we mean.”