French President Emmaneul is set to visit the infamous Fela’s Shrine. The African Shrine is a music center where fans gather to celebrate their idol Fela Kuti daily.
While the place might bring up pictures of marijuana smoke, scantily clad girls and protest music, the French President doesn’t seem perturbed one bit.
The visit is being powered by Ecobank and Trace Urban.
“The Shrine is a must-see place,” said Olivier Laouchez, the head of the TRACE media and entertainment group and organiser of the event Macron will attend, adding that Lagos is “Africa’s cultural capital”.
“There is clearly something abuzz in Lagos, with auctions mushrooming, and this will explode,” said contemporary art specialist Marie-Cecile Zinsou, who is based in neighbouring Benin.
“The idea is to show the richness and diversity of African cultures,” said Laouchez.
“Europe does not know Africa or at least its cultural dimension.”
Emmanuel Macron will also visit the nations capital to discuss issues bordering on terrorism, herdsmen menace and security with President Buhari.
Ibrahim Tcha-Tchere, a veteran employee of the Alliance Francaise cultural institute in Lagos, said Macron’s visit was fitting given that “France has always had great cultural cooperation with Nigeria.
“It was the French who organised Fela’s first European tour in 1981,” he said. “Then his sons Femi and Seun launched their international careers in France.”
