The vibe was explosive! With Afrobeat Rebellion, Lagos was lit on Sunday, October 12, 2025, as the massive exhibition celebrating the life and music of the legendary Afrobeat King, Fela Kuti, finally opened at the Ecobank Pan African Centre.
Tagged “Fela Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion,” this is the global show’s much-anticipated return to Nigeria—the only place where the magic of Afrobeat was born! The exhibition, which honours the Abami Eda in a big way, will be running for 12 straight weeks, from October 12 to December 28, 2025.The opening night was an amazing celebrity and high-profile affair! Diplomats, the Kuti family, and top Nigerian artists all gathered to celebrate the man who used music to fight injustice. Hosted by the cool Folu Storms, the crowd was treated to electrifying performances from UK jazz sensations Ezra Collective and, of course, the one and only Seun Kuti & Egypt 80!Inside the exhibition, it’s a full-blown party and history lesson. This is no boring museums! You’ll see rare photos, hear exclusive recordings, and walk through amazing, real-life reconstructions of Fela’s famous house, the Kalakuta Republic, and the Afrika Shrine. General admission is free from Fridays to Sundays (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM). The fun doesn’t stop there—over the 12 weeks, there will be talks, movie screenings at the Kalakuta Cinema, and huge live shows featuring Femi Kuti and his son, Made Kuti.
READ MORE: SVG Foundation hosts inaugural AI Productivity & Tech Summit to empower students
The show was made possible by the AWCA Foundation, the Kuti family, the French Embassy, and the Philharmonie de Paris.The exhibition curator and founder of JCAA, Seun Alli, explained the essence of putting up the show. According to him, “Too often, Fela is reduced to a handful of catchphrases and uninformed stories – Zombie, Water No Get Enemy, the Kalakuta fire, marrying 27 women, or even the unfounded claim that he performed on stage in his underwear. 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. His work was never just style or spectacle; it was a catalyst of revolt and hope, the soundtrack for those living under oppression, corruption, and the daily failures of power. Nearly three decades after his passing, it remains a profound mystery how Abami Eda’s philosophy continues to resonate so powerfully across all facets of our shared human experience.”
On his part, Laurent Favier stated, “Supporting the Afrobeat Rebellion in Lagos reflects our belief that culture is a bridge. It is a logical and welcome follow-up to the successful exhibition in Paris. This project is both a celebration of Franco-Nigerian collaboration and a cultural gift, honouring Fela’s legacy – who was very appreciated in France – while deepening the dialogue between our two nations.” The French Embassy in Nigeria fosters strong Franco-Nigerian relations by supporting innovative cultural, scientific, audiovisual, academic, and linguistic initiatives through its cultural network. Afrobeat Rebellion is a flagship collaboration funded by the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture through its “Alternative Nigerian Heritages”
Founder, A Whitespace Creative Agency, Papa Omotayo, described the project as an immersive experience that bridges generations through art, sound, and storytelling, adding that the exhibition was inspired by Fela’s defiance and creativity.
“For us, this is more than an art show. It’s a three-month programme featuring concerts, talks, children’s workshops, and spoken word competitions, all aimed at engaging the next generation in the legacy of what it means to be Nigerian and creative.
“Originally staged in Paris, France in 2022, Afrobeat Rebellion has now been expanded for its Lagos debut in collaboration with the French Embassy and Philharmonie,” Omotayo stated.
He further noted: “This is about how Fela’s spirit breathes today. We created mirror narratives between the old Africa Shrine and the new one to show how his energy continues to inspire a new generation.”
