Felabration, the annual festival celebrating the life and music of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, is under way in Lagos. The 2026 edition runs from October 12 to 18 at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, under the theme “Who Are You?!”.
The programme blends concerts with art exhibitions, dance, fashion, debates and other cultural activities, continuing the festival’s tradition of mixing music with conversation about society and politics, themes that ran through Fela’s work.
The lineup
Members of the Kuti family once again headline the week: Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti and Made Kuti are all on the bill. They are joined by artists including Terry Apala and Ice Prince, among others, with each night featuring a different mix of Afrobeat, highlife, hip-hop and Afropop performers.
Alongside the Shrine programme, Freedom Park on Lagos Island is hosting a parallel series called Underground System 5 on the same dates, with gates opening at 6pm, performances from 7pm and an entry fee of N3,000.
Key points
- Dates: October 12 to 18, 2026.
- Main venue: New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja.
- Theme: “Who Are You?!”
- Headliners: Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti and Made Kuti.
- Parallel events: Underground System 5 at Freedom Park, N3,000 entry.
Why Felabration endures
Felabration was started in 1998 by Fela’s daughter, Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, the year after his death, and it has grown into one of Lagos’s best-known cultural festivals. Fela’s birthday, October 15, falls during the festival week. For many young Nigerians, the event is a chance to experience live Afrobeat with full horn sections and dancers, a sound that continues to influence artists worldwide.
Background
The New Afrika Shrine was opened by Femi and Yeni Kuti in 2000 as a successor to Fela’s original Afrika Shrine, and it remains a popular live music venue throughout the year. During Felabration, crowds often stay late into the night, and the event draws visitors from other states and from abroad.
Attendees are advised to plan transport ahead, as Ikeja roads get busy in the evenings.
Photo: Unsplash (illustrative).
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