Felabration - Fela Kuti

Story
- 1938Olufela Olusegun Oludoton Ransome-Kuti - Fela - is born on 15 October in Abeokuta, a town fifty miles north of Lagos.
- 1946Fela begins learning the piano, encouraged by his father, who believes studying music is an essential part of a good education.
- 1954On a visit to Lagos, Fela meets Jimo Kombi Braimah, known to everyone as JK, who will become his life-long friend and confidant.
- 1955Fela’s father, Reverend Israel Ransome-Kuti, dies.
- 1958Fela leaves Abeokuta for London. His parents had hoped he would study to become a doctor but Fela is determined to continue with music.
- 1959Fela forms his first group, Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Highlife Rakers. The band record four sides for Melodisc, one of Britain’s first independent African and Caribbean music labels.
- 1960Fela disbands the Highlife Rakers and forms Koola Lobitos, which has a line-up of West African and Caribbean musicians.
- 1961Fela marries Remi. His first daughter, Yeni, is born.
- 1962Fela graduates from Trinity College of Music. His first son, Femi, is born.
- 1963Fela forms the first edition of the Fela Ransome-Kuti Quintet.
- 1964NBC hires Fela as a junior producer. Drummer Tony Allen joins his band.
- 1965Fela is fired from NBC. He forms a second edition of Koola Lobitos.
- 1966Koola Lobitos becomes a popular presence on the Lagos music scene.
- 1967Trumpeter Tunde Williams (later a key member of Afrika 70) joins Koola Lobitos.
- 1968Fela’s first album, a compilation of Koola Lobitos singles, is released.
- 1969Fela and Koola Lobitos record a live album at the Afro-Spot and begin a 10-month tour in the US.
- 1970Fela and Nigeria 70 record ten tracks in Los Angeles, later released in Nigeria as Fela Fela Fela.
- 1971Fela changes his band’s name from Nigeria 70 to Africa 70.
- 1972Fela renames the Afro-Spot the Africa Shrine and brings it back to life.
- 1973Fela and Africa 70 release Gentleman, the first fully formed Afrobeat album.
- 1974Fela is wrongfully jailed for three days giving him material for future albums, Alagbon Close and Expensive Shit.
- 1975Fela changes his last name from Ransome-Kuti to Anikulapo-Kuti (“one who carries death in his pouch”).
- 1976Fela increases his involvement with the direct-action political movement the Young African Pioneers.
- 1977In an unprecedentedly brutal assault, 1,000 soldiers batter their way into Kalakuta and raze it to the ground.
- 1978Fela marries 27 women in a traditional Yoruba wedding ceremony in Lagos.
- 1979Fela and his political party Movement Of The People are banned from contesting Nigeria’s presidential election.
- 1980Fela resumes touring in Nigeria and is joined by US jazz-funk star Roy Ayers.
- 1981Fela renames Afrika 70 as Egypt 80 and tours Europe.
- 1982With no international record deal and an economic recession gripping Nigeria, this is a difficult year for Fela.
- 1983Fela’s son Seun is born. Fela makes his first appearance at Britain’s Glastonbury.
- 1984Fela is arrested and has to cancel an upcoming tour.
- 1985Fela is named a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International.
- 1986Fela is freed from jail. He announces that he will run for president.
- 1987A series of events are held in Lagos to commemorate the 1977 attack on Kalakuta.
- 1988Fela and Egypt 80 spend most of the year performing at the Shrine.
- 1989Fela and Egypt 80 resume international touring, including two shows in New York with James Brown.
- 1992Fela releases Underground System, which will be the final album of newly recorded studio.
- 1993 - 1994Fela’s high-profile campaign for the right to smoke weed continues, as does police harassment of him and the Shrine.
- 1997Fela dies. Over a million people gather to pay their final respects.
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FELABRATION 2020

Fight to Finish, Fight to Win: The Virtual Edition. Featuring The Symposium, Dress Like Fela Challenge, Art Competition, Dance Competition, and 3 days of performances from October 15-17.

THE SYMPOSIUM

PERFORMANCES

THE HISTORY

The idea and concept of Felabration as an annual celebration of Fela’s music, life and times, originated from his eldest child Yeni who conceived it in 1998. With the exception of 1999, Felabration has taken place annually. Currently Felabration - organized by the Felabration Organising Committee - has grown into a mega week-long musical event in Nigeria which attracts thousands of visitors annually to the New Africa Shrine from all over the world. Felabration is an official tourist destination of The Lagos State Government who are major sponsors of the event.

Over the years Felabration has attracted many high-class musical acts from all over the world. The roll call includes; Hugh Masekela, Femi Kuti, Lucky Dube, Awilo, Baba Maal, Les Nubians, King Sunny Ade, Lagbaja, Asa, TuFace, Sauti Sol, Seun Kuti and many others. A testament to the global nature of the Felabration brand is when in the year 2008, over 50 international artistes came together under the banner, African Express - from the United States, Great Britain, France and Senegal - to perform at Felabration.

Every year, Felabration features an exciting lineup of artistes designed to satisfy the appetite of music lovers who throng the New Africa Shrine. The Felabration Week always runs through the week of October that includes the 15th day, ensuring that Fela’s posthumous birthday celebrations are part of the Festival. As the creator of afrobeat, social critic, political activist and champion of the underprivileged, as well as a philosopher of his own political ideology, Fela is still today, a hero to millions of people for his contributions to society. The Felabration festivals always include a range of activities attendees can engage in, such as ‘The Fela Debates’ symposium series, the Secondary Schools debate, the Afrobics Dance Competition, Art Exhibitions, Art Competition and lots more. The festivals offer an exhilarating week-long experience celebrating the iconic status of Africa’s best known musical figure, Fela Anikulakpo Kuti.

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