Fela lives on in Kwara as state celebrates his life, legacies

By Ben Njoku

Memories of Afrobeat pioneer and activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will be relived  in Ilorin, Kwara State, from Monday, October 26, 2026,as  an art exhibition celebrating his life and legacy opens to the public in a grand style. 

The event, titled “Fela— A Retrospective,” is organized in alignment with the vision of the Kwara State Governor to promote the local creative economy and cultural heritage.

Holding at  the Institute of Contemporary African Art and Film,ICAAF, Ilorin, the exhibition , which will be curated and produced by June Creative Art Advisory, JCAA, runs until December 31, 2026, with free admission for members of the public.  

According to a statement issued in Ilorin by the state’s Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju (@BolanleOlukoju), the exhibition will feature photographs, archival materials, music, film and historical objects documenting Fela’s contributions to Afrobeat, art and social thought.

It will also highlight his historic performance at the Niger Hotel, Ilorin, on August 30, 1971.

The initiative will feature guided tours, school visits and workshops aimed at exposing young people and the general public to creative disciplines, promoting cultural heritage and supporting the growth of Kwara State’s creative economy.

The exhibition is also expected to inspire emerging creatives by demonstrating how music, art, film, design and other creative disciplines can serve as tools for self-expression, cultural preservation and social change.

Olukoju said the initiative aligns with the vision of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to harness Kwara State’s cultural heritage, creative talent and tourism potential as drivers of development.