Story highlights
- Nigerians gather to celebrate life of Fela Kuti at the annual Felabration in Lagos
- Fela Kuti was the pioneer of Afrobeat music
African Voices highlights the continent's most dazzling trendsetters
Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)The drums rumble like distant thunder, a saxophone wails, and a row of scantily clad women dance and sweat on the stage. Above the stage hangs a poster with the name: "Fela Kuti."
On October 21, Nigerians celebrated the memory of one of their own -- and arguably one of Africa's -- greatest musicians.
Fela Kuti died 18 years ago, but since then his legacy and popularity as a musician and human rights activist has only grown. Outside the concert hall, the line of young men and women -- many of whom were not even born when Fela died -- have not forgotten him.
"The music is inspiring," says Jubilee Yusuf. "When you listen to the lyrics it tells you a whole lot about yourself, about Nigeria and about the world."
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Fans line up to enter a tribute concert to the life of Fela Kuti. (All photos by Christian Purefoy/CNN)
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A poster celebrating Fela Kuti.
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Further lines to get into the Felabration.
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Taking a brief respite from the evening's festivities.
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Pounding the drums at the Felabration.
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The number of cameras present demonstrates the draw that Fela Kuti still has.
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Media crowd to get the best shot.
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"Fela is a big man -- people are gathering here because of him," says Eniola Bella. "If he was not a big man, then people would not be here."
Through his music and human rights activism, Fela Kuti campaigned against military rule and corruption in Nigeria. In 1977, for example, he released the album "Zombie," which ridiculed the military government. In response, the military burned his home, beat him, and threw his mother out of a window. She died soon after from her injuries.
Fela himself died in 1997 from complications from AIDS.
His daughter Yeni, organizer of the annual "Felabration" concert to keep the memory of her father alive, says the power of her father's message was in its simplicity.
"Fela is very important because he spoke the truth," says Yeni Kuti. "It's very important, because the truth shall set you free."
And as the dancers strutted on stage and the singers call out against corruption -- the night is about keeping Fela's message alive.
