PICTURES: Sir Shina Peters, Olamide Kick-off Felabration With A Bang

The seventh edition of Felabration, the annual musical festival dedicated to late Nigerian Afrobeat music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti took off last night with great performance from a mix of old and new artistes led by Afro-Juju music star, Sir Shina Peters.


Felabration, which started with a symposium titled: “Movement of the People: The Fela/Bob Marley Perspective” on Monday, had thousands of music lovers thronged the New Afrika Shrine in Alausa Central Business District, Ikeja, Lagos for the concert aspect of the festival.

And they were treated to an amazing night with different genres of music from traditional to the contemporary.

The concert started at about 8p.m with Femi Kuti’s Positive Band setting the mood right with numbers of Jazz tunes and some of Fela’s hit songs. They later vacated the stage for scores of up and coming artistes coming on stage one after the other to showcase their talents. These burgeoning artistes warmed up the night for some rave artistes like Orezi, Rayce, Shank, Flowsick and Olamide, to up the tempo.

Olamide, who breezed in from the United Kingdom where he had a sold out concert at the O2 Arena, was the star of the night. His arrival on stage was heralded by a tumultuous holler and applause by many inside the Shrine and others who were monitoring the show from a large screen placed outside the shrine.

The YBNL rap star, who for about 30 minutes belted out hit after hit including Badoo, Durosoke, Go Down Low and his latest single, Yemi My Lover, intermittently laced his performance with many street lingos that got many yelling.

Olamide quit the stage for the concert host, comedian Omo Baba, who treated the audience to rib-cracking jokes and set the stage for another of the night’s headlines, DJ Jimmy Jatt. While on stage, Omo Baba announced that today is Jimmy Jatt’s birthday and asked all to sing and wish him a happy birthday.

The Africa’s numero uno DJ later took over the wheel of steel and for one hour, he thrilled the audience to a non-stop mix of old skool tunes and ended it with contemporary songs.

Afro Juju music creator, SSP, rounded off the concert at around 5 a.m with his fast-paced beats. Sporting a black blazer, white shirt, white jeans and black skull cap, SSP had everyone including some Caucasians on their feet, dancing and sing along most of his hits.

The festival continues tonight with some top stars set to storm the stage from 8 p.m. Among the artistes expected are W4, Reminisce, Tunde Ednut, Skales, Sheyman, Waconzy, Prince Wadada, LKT, YQ and Tolu Obey. DJ XClusive and Dotun are expected to be on the wheel of steel.

Meanwhile, Kymani Marley, son of reggae music legend, Bob Marley, is one of the top acts that will be performing at this year’s Felabration.

Also expected at the annual festival are Fuji music czar, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, 2Face Idibia and rap star M.I among others.

The festival’s street carnival will hold on Saturday 19 October, across the streets of Ikeja, Lagos.

This will include street dances, choreographed dancing and brilliant display by colourfully attired gymnasts performing atop flatbed trucks.

The high point of this year’s festival will be the 20 October performance of Femi Kuti and Kymani Marley on same stage.