Exploring Fela’s shrine.
I’m formally a walkabout. Currently, my default temper has been skewed in the direction of “YOLO”. It’s nonetheless a bit bizarre to listen to myself described as a “walkabout” however I assume it’s extra reality than lie and I don’t battle it anymore.
I’m undecided when this tilt occurred as a result of I was this reclusive lady with little expertise of the world however what? It’s progress. It’s progress. And I really love the joys of going to and exploring new locations.
I’ve been that means to go to Fela’s shrine for some time now. I’ll be trustworthy, my need to take a look at the Shrine was fueled extra by my mother and father labeling it a spot for drug addicts and commenting that me going there would imply that I’m one too. I’m defiant like that.
So after Church on Sunday (how ironical proper?), I made my manner right down to The New Afrika/ Fela’s shrine situated off Hakeem Balogun Road in Agidingbi, Ikeja with my buddy Alex (Sure, Alex of the Ghana Journey and The Meals Shack expertise)
Fela’s Shrine was all the pieces I anticipated – The scent of weed, the clearly “doped up folks” and the colourful enjoyable however actually essential posters passing throughout key messages and a little bit of historical past.
What I wasn’t anticipating although, was for it to be a totally civil atmosphere. The folks have been good sufficient, and we weren’t harassed for taking footage.
It appeared precisely like what I’ve heard it known as (though I by no means believed) “a free for all zone”. I’m mentioning this as a result of I do know lots of people get scared to go to the shrine as a result of they suppose it’s a violent atmosphere. Fairly the opposite.
The Fela Shrine They Do not Present You – A Utterly Free For All And Protected Area! Click on To Tweet
We received one of many guys hanging round to behave as our tour information and paid him N500, although He didn’t precisely ask for cash. Sadly, we checked out solely the bottom ground of the shrine and didn’t understand we hadn’t seen the complete place until we have been already heading out (our uber Man was ready).
Apparently, solely the safety guards have entry to the inside rooms, so that you’re higher off asking certainly one of them to behave as your tour information for a full expertise. I plan to move again once more later within the week to take some outfit footage.
Femi Kuti was to carry out later at evening (I hear they’ve completely different exhibits within the evenings) however we couldn’t keep that lengthy. You should buy some Fela Merchandise, meals, snacks, palm wine and simply chill on the shrine for those who don’t thoughts the “smoke”.
Fela’s shrine is situated at 1 NERDC highway, off Hakeem Balogun, Agidingbi, Lagos.
We additionally stopped by on the Kalakuta museum after we left the shrine however sadly, it wasn’t open (it was a Sunday) and we couldn’t test it out.
It will most likely have been a greater expertise if we received a information that had entry to in every single place and likewise may share a little bit of the historical past with us, nevertheless it was positively nonetheless a pleasant expertise.
Have you ever visited/ been at Fela’s shrine? How was your expertise? Additionally, did you catch the Fela and the kalakuta queens present? I missed out on that and I used to be so unhappy about it! Are you a fan of Fela?
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P.S – UPDATED IN OCTOBER 2018
I lastly received to expertise a perfomance at Fela’s shrine and it was electrical. The colors, dancers, performing – a lot brilliance and creativity!
