FELABRATION 2007

FEMI KUTI AND THE POSITIVE FORCE ON STAGE













DUDU OF CRAZY CULTURE THRILLING THE FANS













FANS THAT CAME TO BE PART OF FELABRATION








WE REMEBER LUCKY DUBE WHO ENTERTAINED OUR FANS AT FELABRATION 2006






HUGH MASEKELA WAS ALSO PART OF FELABRATION

FELABRATION 2007: Felabration is a celebration of the life and music of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti – Nigeria/Africa’s most renowned artiste. Felabration has been held each year since Fela’s death in August 1997. The series of events traditionally scheduled between the 9th and 15th of October of each year includes
. Performances by Femi, Seun and other prominent/upcoming Nigerian and international artistes
·Photo/footage/documentary exhibitions of Fela
·Fela themed Competitions – fashion, dance, etc
·Open air music concert
·Feeding of the fans
Every year Felabration is attended by Nigerian and foreigners.




2007 marks 10 years since the death of Fela and this presents an opportunity for all to firmly reaffirm its support in the promotion of his legacy.







Notable international artiste that have graced Felabration was Lucky Dube and Hugh Masekela.

PICTURES

SAXAPHONE :SOUL OF AFROBEAT

AMB FEMI KUTI

THE KING

THE BEAUTIFUL POSITIVE FORCE DANCERS

MEMBERS OF THE POSITIVE FORCE ON STAGE

ALABA ADEPOJU(A MEMBER OF STAFF WATCHING
ACTIVITIES AT THE NEW AFRICA SHRINE RESTAURANT)















LAIDE ANIMASHAUN AND TOSIN BILLYROSE BOTH STAGE DANCERS














MRS TOLANI TAIWO ATTENDING TO MRS MARY KAREEM














GARDEN BAR (PRESENTLY NOT EXISTING)













CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ATTENDED TO IN OUR RESTAURANT














GBENGA LALAYE THE FORMER BAND LEADER OF THE POSITIVE FORCE POSING ON STAGE

ONOME UDI ONE OF OUR STAGE AND LEAD DANCER















LAIDE ANIMASHAUN STAGE DANCER

LIVE ON STAGE

UPPER VIEW FROM THE SIDE GALLERY

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE HALL

PATRONS BEING ATTENDED TO AT THE BAR

THE KING ON STAGE

WELCOME

AMB FEMI KUTI AND THE POSITIVE DURING A REHERSAL SESSION IN THE SHRINE

YENI ANIKULAPO-KUTI

OLU MAINTAIN AND YK POWER

YK

YK AND YOUNGER SISTER SOLA

MAMA AFRICA
YK IN A HAPPY MOOD

YENI KUTI IN HER ACTIVE DAYS AS A DANCER FOR THE POSITIVE FORCE

POSITIVE FORCE DANCERS

YK POWER AND OLISA DURING FELABRATION 07

YK POWER POWER CELEBRATION OF HER 2006 AND 2007 BIRTHDAYS

Having hailed from a noble family with a world class musician father, maverick dancer and choreographer, Yeni Kuti could easily pass for someone born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But Yeni who is the eldest daughter of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti said she refused to come under the delusion of her father’s fame and affluence. She said she was never pampered although she had every opportunity. However, the artiste who currently runs the new Afrika Shrine alongside her brother, Femi Kuti is today reaping the gains of hardwork and commitment. Bold, loquacious, and sometimes weird in some of her ways, the mother-of-one confessed to Daily Sun recently that the two challenges before her presently is how to launder the image of the shrine and establish a dance school. The second project seems a tall ambition but she believes it can be accomplished as noted in this interview. She speaks on growing up, career, ambition, Afrika Shrine and why she doesn’t have a social life.

Growing up
My father was already popular by the time I was admitted into the secondary school. When I was in the primary school, he wasn’t so popular. As a result of his popularity, a lot of people wanted to be my friend. On the contrary, there were people who didn’t want to associte with me because I was Fela’s daughter.We did not grow up in affluence, my parents were not very rich. I used to fetch water because we didn’t have pip-borne water in the house we lived.I had to fetch water to bath, wash my clothes until I was about 17 or 18 years old. We did not have a house help. My mother never had one. So, one day father saw my palms and screamed. " Look at your hands, so you wash your own clothes?, he asked me. He then told me, ‘okay bring your clothes here so that the boys would wash them for you’. Upon that instruction, I took the clothes to his house to get them washed. At 18 years, I had left secondary school. I attended Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos. I could not complete my final year examination because I had to travel. On arrival, I called on the school so that I could write the examination, but the man who received the call was not quite friendly, so I abandoned the examination. Later, I enrolled in a secretariat school, where I did speedwriting.After the programme, I worked for about five years until my brother started his band. When he started the band, I told myself, ‘I must do the choreography because of my passion for dancing.’Working experienceI worked for an architectural firm for about four years. After that, I worked for Arrow Head, a fashion house for a year. When I was there, I used to put on skirt suit. I had to dress like a secretary because my boss was very strict about dressing. I was always looking very officious.Dancing is my lifeIn my secondary school days, I was in all the dance troupes. I had some friends who would tell me, ‘Yeni you danced too much and because of that I wouldn’t want to be your friend again.’ When I left secondary school, instead of going to journalism school, I wanted to go to a dancing school abroad but my father couldn’t afford it. That was why I could not attend a dancing school but it was still a passion. After two years of watching Fela’s dancers on stage, I went to him and asked him if I could choreograph his dancers. Although, he had someone doing his choreography but I didn’t like the way the person was handling it. Fela agreed, but When I spoke with one of his wives, she told me that the politics was just too much, so I beat a retreat. Eventually, when Femi was going to start his band, my late sister, Sola and I were so happy because we saw it as a big opportunity.

Choreographing Femi’s dancers

Now, I still work with my brother. I do the choreography and I still dance on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the rehearsals. I don’t dance during Femi’s shows anymore because I think I don’t have the energy any longer. I don’t know where Femi got his energy from.

FEMI ANIKULAPO-KUTI

ALBUM COVER: LIVE IN THE SHRINE 2004

RELAXING

CAUGHT IN THE GROOVE OF AFROBEAT

THE KING AND THE PRINCE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL JULY 24 2005

FEMI KUTI AND FREESTYLE

MADE ANIKULAPO-KUTI (FEMI KUTI'S ELDEST SON)















FEMI KUTI ANGELIQUE KIDJO AND BABAMAAL IN THE U.S.A















FEMI KUTI AND SON KEEPING THE LEGACY ALIVE














FEMI KUTI CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY ON STAGE


















OMORINMADE AFOLABI ANIKULAPO-KUTI












FEMI KUTI AND SON :MADE GOING ON STAGE













MEMBERS OF THE POSITIVE FORCE BAND



















MADE CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY IN THE SHRINE









(FRM L-R)MADE, KOLE,FEMI KUTI,SUNDAY(MANAGER OF THE SHRINE),ONOME UDI AND HYATI

Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti (commonly known as Femi Kuti) is an award winning Nigerian musician, and the eldest son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and Remi, who had left Fela and raised Femi.
Femi was born in London on 16 June 1962 and grew up in the former Nigerian capital Lagos. In 1977 Femi chose to move to his father Fela from his mother.
Like his father, Femi has shown a strong commitment to social and political causes throughout his career, but he differs from his father in his religious views.
In 2001, Femi collaborated with a number of U.S. musicians such as Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright, on his Fight to Win album.
In 2002, Femi's mother, who had played an influential role in Femi's life, died at the age of 60.
Femi's 12 year old son currently appears as part of his act, playing alto saxophone.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Birth name Femi Anikulapo Kuti
Born June 16, 1962 (1962-06-16) (age 45)
Origin London, UK/Nigeria
Genre(s) Afrobeat, Jazz
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist
Instrument(s) Saxophone, Vocals, Trumpet, Keyboards
Years active 1978 - present
Associated acts Egypt 80, Positive Force

When Ambassador is in Nigeria and not on tour, he plays live in the Shrine on Tuesday,Thursday(Rehearsals) and on Sundays(Concert)