CELEBRATING AFRICAN CULTURE WITH THE FRENCH PRESIDENT

3 July, 2018, the French president Emmanuel Macron after his discussions with the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, headed to LagosHe arrived the New Afrikan shrine in a casual white shirt, with sleeves rolled and was seen at the upper arm of the hall, with Akinwunmi Ambode – the Governor of Lagos state, Professor Wole Soyinka, Tunde Kelani and a hive of young creatives, innovators and public office holders.

President Macron made an iconic stop at the Afrika Shrine; a cultural hub founded by legendary Nigerian Afrobeat star Fela Kuti, where he announced the planned launch of the “Season of African cultures 2020”. The event is intended to be the face of African culture in Europe. When asked about previous visits to the legendary Lagos club, Macron said: “I can’t tell you everything that happened when I used to come to the Shrine because what happens at the Shrine stays at the Shrine.” He said the visit was a good opportunity to return to the African Shrine, a place he visited about 15 years ago when he was an intern with the Nigerian French consulate, describing it as ‘iconic place for African people and culture.’

First, I think that is such an iconic place for a lot of African people and African culture. And I think very often when you speak of the African culture in Europe, those who are successful in Europe and in France, which is different most of the times are not dramatically very famous in Nigeria or in Africa. And there is a bias because you know people are absolutely not the same. I mean Fela, Femi, Seun Kuti are obviously very famous in France and Europe. I mean they are big successes but the Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and it is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognise the importance of this place. I recognise the place of culture in this current environment.

Richard Ogundiya

Journalist & Techpreneur. Africa, communications and data.

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