|
 Emmanuel Macron arrived at the famous venue in the Nigerian city
of Lagos, just hours after holding talks and a joint news
conference with President Muhammadu Buhari in the capital,
Abuja, at the start of a two-day visit to the West African
country.
During the news conference he stated his commitment to helping
the fight against Islamist militants in the northeast, before
embarking on the hour-long flight to Lagos to visit the New
Afrika Shrine.
The venue replaced the famed original - created by Fela - which
burned down in 1977. It is managed by the musician's sons Femi
and Seun who continue their father's musical and cultural
tradition.
Fela - a singer, composer and saxophonist - pioneered the
Afrobeat sound by combining organ riffs with West African
drumming and brass instruments. He was famed for his sexual
exploits, marijuana smoking and fearless critiques of Nigeria's
military regime.
"Fela was not just a musician. He was a politician who wanted to
change society. So if I have one message for young people, it's
this: 'Yes, politics is important; yes, be involved," Macron
told the audience from the stage.
Fela was jailed on dozens of occasions by military rulers in the
1970s and 1980s, including by Buhari during his time as a
military leader in the early 80s.
[to top of second column] |
The presence of the French president brought a different ambience to
the famed venue: the smell of marijuana was absent and the gathering
of youths that usually gather outside were absent due to the heavy
security presence.
During an evening in which classic Fela songs were played alongside
contemporary artists, and a fashion show was held, the French
president told the audience Nigeria was important for African
culture.
He said France planned to launch a season of events intended to be
"the face of African culture in Europe".
"It will be about a new generation of African artists - for them by
them," he said.
The visit to Nigeria has marked a return to familiar territory for
Macron. He spent six months in Abuja as an intern at the French
embassy in 2002.
When asked about previous visits to the legendary Lagos club, he
said: "I can't tell you everything that happened when I used to come
to the Shrine because what happens at the Shrine stays at the
Shrine."
(Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
