PRESS RELEASE

BRYMO, SOUND SULTAN, ADUKE, BENSON IDONIJE HOSTED AT LABAF’S FELA@80  TRIBUTE

The Lagos Book and Arts Festival 2018, arguably the largest gathering of literary enthusiast in Africa and an annual celebration of the book culture and general arts organized by the Committee for Relevant Arts is partnering with Artmosphere Nigeria to curate the Fela@80 Tribute event as part of its 2018 themed: themed Renewal: A World That Works For All.

This year’s theme is inspired by the need to focus on the process of the nation’s return to civilian rule as it enters its 20th year of democracy and conducts its sixth general election while highlighting the commentaries on the landscape  riddled by Herdsmen killings, insurgency, Biafra secession outcries, widespread bloodlettings, kidnappings, and other convulsions in the polity that unsettle us all. The organisers pose the question, ‘Can we all, through books, imagine a world of better possibilities?’

The Festival has also run for twenty years bringing to fore discourse on literacy, social development and artistic freedom, it has become the most consistent books and arts event in the country. It is a week long sessions of  readings, conversations around literary texts, art and craft displays, art workshops, book exhibitions, live music and dance.

The curators of the festival will be hosting a Tribute Session in honour of the late Afrobeat legend; Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, as this year’s festival coincides with the musical icon’s 80^th posthumous birthday celebration. In conjunction with   Artmosphere Nigeria,an incubation idea of Fairchild Media, the session seeks to engage younger musicians on the influence of Fela’s music on their craft and visiting the phenomena music is a tool for socio-cultural consciousness.The event is scheduled for Wednesday, 7th of November at Freedom Park, Old Prison, off Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos by 7PM

Commenting on theFestival, the Co-chair of the Lagos Book and Art Festival, Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo said “Essentially, it is conceived to recognize the growing status of music as a tool for social, cultural and political engagements”. Speaking about the collaborative project, Femi Morgan of Artmosphere Nigeria stated that “this partnership as a subtle endorsement of our seven years of curating arts, culture and social relevant projects in Nigeria. We are glad to play an active role in the 20th edition of the Lagos Book and Arts Event because of the shared vision of using literature and social discourse as a tool for literacy, governance and national development”.

The conversation will feature globally rated Nigerian music artists such as Burna Boy,Brymo, Sound Sultan, Seun Kuti, Aduke, as well as music critic and music historian and documentarist as well as Fela’s first manager-Benson Idonije and they will be sharing memories, ideas and influences of Fela on their works, their craft and careers.