Felabration is an annual music festival celebrating the life, music, and legacy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Afrobeat pioneer. Held every October to mark Fela's birthday (October 15), the week-long festival takes place at the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos. Founded by Fela's daughter Yeni Kuti in 1998, Felabration features performances by leading Afrobeat and African artists, art exhibitions, debates, and film screenings. The festival attracts thousands of fans from around the world and has become a pilgrimage for Afrobeat lovers. Fela's son Seun Kuti and grandson Made Kuti carry on the musical tradition. Felabration celebrates not just music but Fela's Pan-Africanism, activism, and revolutionary spirit, keeping his message alive for new generations.


AFROBEAT PILGRIMAGE:
Felabration honours Fela Kuti’s legacy with week-long programming at the New Afrika Shrine—concerts, photo exhibitions, debates, poetry slams, and street parades along Freedom Park, Lagos.

MUSIC AND MESSAGE:
Lineups feature Afrobeat legends, hip-hop, reggae, and spoken-word artists from Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Panel discussions explore governance, human rights, and creative freedom, staying true to Fela’s activist spirit.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT:
The festival drives hospitality revenue, empowers vendors, and supports creative start-ups with pop-up markets. Educational outreach includes school tours focusing on music history and civic participation.

GLOBAL NETWORK:
Satellite Felabration events occur in New York, London, Johannesburg, and São Paulo, tying diaspora communities together. The Kuti family collaborates with NGOs on vaccination drives and voter education during the festival.

FAST FACTS:
- Founded: 1998 by Yeni Kuti.
- Schedule: mid-October, culminating on Fela’s birthday (October 15).
- Signature chant: “Water no get enemy”—symbolising resilience and unity.
- Attendance: tens of thousands daily, with livestreams reaching millions.