It was a mix of thrills and glamour penultimate weekend and early this morning as the week-long celebration of the late Afrobeat Legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and the Jamaica idol, Bob Marley, finally ended with international acts from Jamaica, Benin Republic, United States of America and Nigeria thrilling fans to different genres of music at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
The scion of the music legend, Femi Kuti, used the show tagged Felabration as an avenue to thank sponsors, fans and artistes that performed throughout the grand show.
“May I appreciate all the artistes who showed love, the different sponsors and most especially, the audience,” he said, adding that without the audience, Felabration 2013 would have been a failure.
He further explained that the essence of the annual event was not limited to music or the celebration of his father, but to look at the ills in the society and redirect the course of history to achieve world peace and qualitative life for all citizens.
“Felabration is not about Fela, Femi or Seun. Felabration is about world peace, about ending poverty, giving qualitative education to Nigerians, enhancing our health sector, having a leadership that is accountable to the electorate amongst other things that need to be corrected. “Felabration is about emancipating ourselves from mental slavery,” he said.
Son of the Jamaican legend, Kymani Marley, thrilled the audience to some of the classic works of Bob Marley, declaring at the end that, “we are the revolutionaries of today, we are the freedom fighters of today, we cannot shy away from it.”
Some of the artistes that also performed were Weird MC, Dr. Sid, Burna Boy, Chidima, amongst others.
Sensational singer D’banj crowned the day’s event with a dramatic performance that kept the audience spellbound till 6.25a.m.
The event started with The Fela Debates on Monday, 4 October, 2013 at the NECA House Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos with the topic: ‘Movement of The People, The Fela and Bob Marley Perspectives.’
Guest speakers included Dr. Sola Olorunyomi, Vivien Goldman and Professor John Collins.