THE atmosphere around the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja is charged with anticipation as Felabration 2025 kicks off today, October 13, marking 25 years of celebrating the life, music, and spirit of Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
This year’s theme, “SHAKARA” – captures the confidence, defiance, and creative fire that defined Fela’s music and message. From pulsating live performances to thought-provoking discussions, the festival promises a week of cultural energy, closing with the final on Sunday, October 19. Shakara encapsulates the bold expressions of afrobeat.
Annually, several pre-event activities lead up to the main Felabration week in October, that includes; Dress Fela Fashion competition, school debates, art competitions, street parades, and the much-anticipated Fela Debate Symposium — all designed to engage young people and keep Fela’s message alive in creative and intellectual spaces.
Yeni Kuti
Founded in 1998 by Fela’s eldest daughter, Yeni Anikulapo Kuti, Felabration has grown from a modest tribute concert into one of Africa’s most enduring festivals — a global celebration of Afrobeat, activism, and African pride.
Speaking exclusively to eyesofalagosboy.com, Yeni Kuti reflected on the milestone with warmth and humor: “It’s incredible to see Felabration turn 25 — and it just keeps getting better every year! We’re here to celebrate Fela, his music, and his message with joy and gratitude. I hope that the next 25 years will be even more festive and inspiring. I’m 64 now, so by the time we’re celebrating 50 years of Felabration, I’ll be 89 — and I plan to still be dancing.” YK Power’s words capture the unbroken rhythm of Felabration — a movement that continues to grow, generation after generation, around the fire of Fela’s fearless artistry.
The 17th Fela Debate: ‘Water No Get Enemy’
This year’s celebrations begin with the Fela Debate Symposium, themed “Water No Get Enemy”, inspired by one of Fela’s timeless classics. The debate, takes place at the NECA Hall, Hakeem Balogun Street, Ikeja. It explores how art, governance, and sustainability intersect in shaping a more equitable Africa.
Moderated by Senator Ben Murray Bruce, the session features a keynote address by Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, alongside guest speakers Festus Okubor of the Shell Foundation and Ekuma Eze of Rite Foods, who will share perspectives on innovation, environmental responsibility, and the creative economy.
Over the years, the Fela Debate has hosted some of Africa’s leading thinkers and voices, that include; Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Pat Utomi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Bobi Wine, Femi Falana, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, among others — a testament to its place as one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms for dialogue on social justice, governance, and African identity.
Throughout the week, the Shrine will host a vibrant mix of live performances, featuring Femi Kuti, Made Kuti, Terry Apala, Kashcoming, Berri Tega, Centinnoofficial, and Boysarm Parody — artists who embody the festival’s “Bold Expressions” spirit, fusing Afrobeat’s roots with the pulse of today’s sound. Previous Felabration is always packed with surprise artists loved deeply by fans and this year’s is not going to be different.
As Felabration marks its silver jubilee, it remains more than just a festival — it is a living testament to the power of music to inspire change and unity. From its beginnings as a family-driven idea to an international celebration of creativity and resistance, Felabration continues to prove that Fela’s voice still echoes — in every beat, every lyric, and every bold expression.
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Images from the past, by eyesofalagosboy.com
Shakara – Felabration 2025 opens today