Exploring Fela’s shrine.
I’m officially a walkabout. Lately, my default mood has been skewed towards “YOLO”. It’s still a bit weird to hear myself described as a “walkabout” but I guess it’s more truth than lie and I don’t fight it anymore.
I’m not sure when this tilt happened because I used to be this reclusive girl with little experience of the world but you know what? It’s growth. It’s progress. And I truly love the thrill of going to and exploring new places.
Related: Exploring Ghana In 48hrs
I’ve been meaning to visit Fela’s shrine for a while now. I’ll be honest, my desire to check out the Shrine was fueled more by my parents labeling it a place for drug addicts and commenting that me going there would mean that I am one too. I’m defiant like that.
So after Church on Sunday (how ironical right?), I made my way down to The New Afrika/ Fela’s shrine located off Hakeem Balogun Street in Agidingbi, Ikeja with my friend Alex (Yes, Alex of the Ghana Trip and The Food Shack experience)
Fela’s Shrine was everything I expected – The smell of weed, the obviously “doped up people” and the colorful fun but really important posters passing across key messages and a bit of history.
What I wasn’t expecting though, was for it to be a completely civil environment. The people were nice enough, and we weren’t harassed for taking pictures.
It seemed exactly like what I’ve heard it referred to as (although I never believed) “a free for all zone”. I’m mentioning this because I know a lot of people get scared to visit the shrine because they think it is a violent environment. Quite the contrary.
The Fela Shrine They Don't Show You - A Completely Free For All And Safe Space! Click To Tweet
We got one of the guys hanging around to act as our tour guide and paid him N500, though He didn’t exactly ask for money. Unfortunately, we checked out only the ground floor of the shrine and didn’t realize we hadn’t seen the full place till we were already heading out (our uber Guy was waiting).
Apparently, only the security guards have access to the inner rooms, so you’re better off asking one of them to act as your tour guide for a full experience. I plan to head back again later in the week to take some outfit pictures.
Femi Kuti was to perform later at night (I hear they have different shows in the evenings) but we couldn’t stay that long. You can buy some Fela Merchandise, food, snacks, palm wine and just chill at the shrine if you don’t mind the “smoke”.
Fela’s shrine is located at 1 NERDC road, off Hakeem Balogun, Agidingbi, Lagos.
We also stopped by at the Kalakuta museum after we left the shrine but unfortunately, it wasn’t open (it was a Sunday) and we couldn’t check it out.
It would probably have been a better experience if we got a guide that had access to everywhere and also could share a bit of the history with us, but it was definitely still a nice experience.
Have you visited/ been at Fela’s shrine? How was your experience? Also, did you catch the Fela and the kalakuta queens show? I missed out on that and I was so sad about it! Are you a fan of Fela?
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I finally got to experience a perfomance at Fela’s shrine and it was electric. The colours, dancers, acting – so much brilliance and creativity!
I am personally not a fan of Fela’s music and know very few of his songs so I couldn’t connect much with the songs but the perfomance drew me in regardless. I loved it!
I have a ‘I don’t like but I respect ‘ relationship with Fela, mostly because of the stories I heard about him. this place looks like nice, like it could be the main setting of several novels 😂
p. s Alex looks badass in that picture
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Thank you! I really don’t have much feelings towards Fela. I just realize that he’s an Icon and like you too, I respect his memory because of the stories I’ve heard about him.
Thank you! Alex didn’t even like the picture. Smh
I just realized that I have never seen any ‘review’ of the Shrine and after seeing the Manya video, I wanted to know more about this obvious history trove. Now, after reading this, I really want to see all of it for myself, you have really piqued my interest.
Lagos has a lot of places sha, I really miss Lagos.
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Aww where are you based? Lagos sure does have interesting places.
And now I’m off to see the Manya video. Love that song so much! Been bumping to it all week
I’ve always wanted to go here but I was worried about taking photos. Going to head over there and visit one of these days.
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Worry not! They only have issues with you taking videos though because they want the people there to retain their privacy.
Now I can literally say I have an idea of what the popular Fela’s shrine shrine looks like. I’ve always been curious about that place really! Thanks for feeding my curiosity Cassie lol. Would definitely visit the place anytime soon.
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Yaay. You’re welcome Adura!
I love such places. So cool. They just usually add some good value to a person. Also, your striped skirt is so bomb.I love it.
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Thank you Sophie!
Yup, my first time there I couldn’t believe how civil and calm the whole place was(although the energy tends to change in the evenings/night) It is really a chill place. I got to check out the top floor and hang out(a bit) Even I am planning to go back there soon.
Your photos are really pretty…xxx
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I’ve always wondered what it looks like and this post helps. With all the stories I’ve heard I was expecting something else entirely.
Love that picture of Alex, she looks so good.
thanks this post was really useful to me!
Do you have to pay to get in?
Nope
Soo are you saying it’s safe driving and carrying my phone?…cos I really wanted to check out the place this Friday…..buh the fear of trouble from miscreants and riffraffs is preventing me
Yes it is!
Is there a museum at the shrine?