Bob Marley’s son, wife for Felabration

Rita

One of the sons of the late legendary Jamaican reggae musician, Bob Marley, Ky-mani Marley and his step-mother, Rita Marley, are among the international stars expected to attend this year’s edition of Felabration in Lagos next week.

Investigation by our correspondent on Thursday showed that Ky-mani, who is currently on a playing tour of Europe with his band, has indicated his intention to perform during the annual event aimed at celebrating the life and works of the late creator of Afrobeat music, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Ky-mani and his band will share the stage with Fela’s sons, Femi and Seun, as well as with the Positive Force Band and the Egypt ’80 band in what is expected to be the biggest live concert ever witnessed in Lagos in a long time.

Already music fans, especially lovers of Afrobeat and reggae, are looking forward to the event, which will see the sons of the two late revolutionary musicians appearing on stage simultaneously for the first time in Nigeria.

Apart from being a symbolic performance, it is intended to draw attention to the unique messages that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Bob Marley preached at different times in their careers.

As part of the activities marking Felabration, a symposium, also known as the Fela Debate, will take place on Monday, October 14, at the New Afrika Shrine, Agidingbi, Lagos with the theme: Movement of the People: The Fela and Bob Marley Perspective.

Marley’s widow, Rita Marley, is expected to attend the symposium as Special Guest alongside other musicians of international repute, scholars and culture enthusiasts.

Also there will be a week-long musical concert, between October 5 and October 20 at the New Afrika Shrine, as well as a colourful street carnival that is expected to take place in Ikeja and its environs on Saturday, October 19, 2013.

Since inception, Felabration has attracted many artistes from different parts of the world. The roll call include Hugh Masakela, Femi Kuti, Lucky Dube, Awilo, Baba Maal, Les Nubians, King Sunny Ade, Lagbaja, Asa, TuFace, Seun Kuti and many others. In 2008, over 50 international artistes came together from the United States, Great Britain, France and Senegal to perform at Felabration under the banner, African Express.

- Punch