The costumes of late Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, are set to join other world music greats’ in the renowned Hard Rock Music Memorabilia Collection.
Fela’s children, Yeni, Femi and Seun Kuti, will hand over their father’s costumes, including pieces of clothing and shoes to representatives of Hard Rock International in Lagos.
Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the icon’s death, a two-part ceremony is slated for Thursday, May 25 at Hard Rock Café Lagos.
It begins with an induction ceremony to be witnessed Fela’s friends, entertainment bigwigs and corporate Nigeria.
The ceremony will climax by 7pm when Femi Kuti with his Positive Force band and Seun Kuti with his Egypt 80 band hit the stage to perform their brands of Afrobeat music.
One the major highlights of the induction will be the release of a new song dedicated to Fela by two-time Grammy award-winning artiste, Lekan Babalola.
The song titled ‘Mr. Lakaye’ is produced by Will Angelero, a New York/UK based producer and co-produced by Babalola.
In addition, sensational artist, Fola David will do a live speed-painting of Fela on stage.
Also to be donated are original evergreen album covers whose designer, veteran artist, Lemi Ghariokwu will also be in attendance.
Known for listening to and digesting Fela’s music, Ghariokwu expressed his reaction in more than 26 album covers for the maestro.
The Hard Rock Café induction is being put together by foremost talent agency, Temple Management Company (TMC) after brokering a similar donation last year by King Sunny Ade (KSA) as well as staging the much-talked about Sunny On Sunday concert.
TMC’s Head of Entertainment, Mark Redguard, said: “The Hard Rock induction again reinforces the influence that the great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti still commands 20 years later. We at TMC are delighted to be identified with another historic occasion that further develops and memorializes the Nigerian Music industry worldwide”
Other legends whose souvenirs are on the Hard Rock Memorabilia Collection include Quincy Jones, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Bob Marley.
