Felabration is taking Nigerian culture to a wider international audience while attracting tourists from across the world, particularly people of African descent in the diaspora, co-manager of the New Afrika Shrine, Yeni Kuti, has said.
Kuti stated this on Saturday in Lagos ahead of the 2026 edition of the annual festival, which celebrates the life and legacy of late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
According to her, Felabration has continued to serve as a platform for promoting Nigerian culture through music, art, fashion, dance and other cultural activities, while drawing international visitors to the New Afrika Shrine.
She said the week-long festival is scheduled to hold from October 12 to October 18, with several activities lined up ahead of the main celebration.
Kuti said the programme would begin with an art competition on October 1 at the Kalakuta Museum, followed by a dance competition on October 3 at the New Afrika Shrine.
She added that the school debates would hold on October 7, while the ‘Dress Fela’ fashion show would take place on October 10 ahead of the main festival.
Kuti said the growing presence of international visitors at the New Afrika Shrine during Felabration was a positive development, noting that it provides an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s culture to people from different parts of the world.
“It’s a very positive thing because if you come to the Shrine, you see people from all over the world.
“I’m glad that we are doing it and we are promoting our culture,” she said.
She added that the festival’s attraction for people of African descent from the diaspora was helping to strengthen the cultural connection between Nigeria and the wider African community around the world.
Felabration was conceived by Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti in 1998 and has grown into an annual festival featuring music, debates, dance, art and fashion in celebration of Fela’s life, music and enduring legacy.