Felabration 2013: Celebration Over But Memory Lingers

The annual celebration of Fela Anikulapo Kuti tagged Felabration has come and gone but its memories still linger. SAMUEL ABULUDE reports on the highlights of this year’s musical week long show
What made Felabration an event to remember every year are its razzmatazz and what each artiste brings to the stage. The theme of this year 2013 resonated with what the Afro beat legend stood for Movement of the People and it brought also the philosophy of another, the reggae music legend, Bob Nesta Marley.  Aside the school debates and symposium, what every fan looked forward to is the atmosphere at the New Afrika Shrine brought about by the tumult crowd.
The week-long music festival in celebration of Nigerian Afro-Beat icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti was graced by the Crème De La Crème of the Nigerian music industry. Olamide, Wizkid, Rayce, May D, Waje, Seyi Shay, Pasuma, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Tunde Ednut, Sound Sultan, MI, Ice Prince etc were all present during the week to pay tribute to the greatest Nigerian musician of all time.
 The mood at the Shrine always brings another element to our artistes with the attendant heavy booze and smoking which puts them on a ‘higher spiritual level’ if we can call it that and music lovers looked forward to the drama that ensues as musicians compete to grab the attention of the audience. Burna Boy and D’Banj stole the show this year with their show of shame.
‘Na Fela Shrine we dey, so make we do am the Fela way’ Burna Boy echoed on stage. He peeled off his prints ensemble and other accessories handing it over to DJ Spinall. Safe for his white underpants, Burna Boy left nothing else to the imagination of the fans. Singing his popular hit song, Run My Race, the crowd inside the New African Shrine, Ikeja in Lagos erupted. Burna Boy’s image loomed large in the thick billows of smoke that soaked the area. This was Felabration at its climax and the audience witnessed Burna Boy unclad with only his pants on to perform his song ‘Run My Race’. “I don’t know why Burna Boy did what he did. But I can definitely tell you that Fela never performed in pants. Burna Boy did it on and I don’t ever want people to link that stunt with Fela,” an angry Femi Kuti said on Twitter.  “I don’t know why he did that, but I am sure he was drunk,” another fan tweeted.
Despite the act of shame, the Rivers State-born singer however dished out his songs like Gimme Dat, Tonight, and My Life. Then entered D’Banj the Koko master. If that Burna Boy’s pant stunt can be excused as trying to imitate Fela, D’banj’s reckless acts was in a distasteful class of its own.  Several times during his performance, the obviously tipsy D’banj beckoned on girls in the crowd to come join him in a series of indecent and immoral acts. A particular incident however evoked outbursts from angry fans who displayed their displeasure as D’banj was wriggling on top a girl he picked from the crowd.
Burna Boy and D’banj’s show of shame was however just the appurtenance of the whole festivity that enveloped Felabration 2013. For a brief moment, it was though both popular younger artistes were in a bid to outdo themselves in the famous stagecraft and theatrics of the late legendary Afro Beat founder, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Aside that, Kymani Marley, son of legendary reggae musician Bob Marley kicked off his performances with rendition of some of his popular songs before switching to the more popular tunes of his late dad, like “One Love”, “Who the Cap Fits” and “Redemption Song” much to the delight of the crowd.
Dr Sid was on hand to entertain the yearning audience as he performed some of his hit songs. Next was nascent rapper Ajebutter 22 who made his Felabration debut on the night. He was well received by the audience who sang along to his monster hit single ‘Omo Pastor’.  Other performers on that Sunday night were Wande Coal who with the help of DJ Spinall also thrilled the crowd. Other outstanding performers were Omawumi who alongside her band gave a splendid live performance of some of her greatest hits. Capital Hill artistes, Ibo Boy Illbliss, Suspect and Chidinma alongside their affiliate Phyno were all on hand to give fantastic rendition of some of their popular tunes.
The festival was an obvious testament to the high regards that the late Fela Kuti wields on contemporary music. The pomp and swagger of Fela is still fresh in the memory of ‘worshippers’ of the old African Shrine who witnessed the legendary stage eccentric presence of the Afro Beat late icon. Felabration triggers a certain nostalgic goose bump among old music fans of Late Fela. But for the younger generation, it has become the only chance to experience the aura and originality somewhat of the late Fela.