Team Europe, African Artists Reignite Fela’s Spirit In Lagos

Team Europe, led by the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, has joined African artists to celebrate Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti through the Afrobeat Rebellion Exhibition in Lagos.

The event, held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, brought together European ambassadors and senior diplomats from Poland, Finland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal.
Supported by the French Embassy, the exhibition is part of a cultural exchange that began in Paris, using music and art to connect Africa and Europe through shared themes of rhythm, resistance, and creativity.
Organised to mark Fela’s birthday, the exhibition showcases photography, sound, and multimedia installations that trace his musical journey, from political activism and artistic defiance to the global influence of Afrobeat as a movement for justice and identity.

At the event, Ambassador Gautier Mignot said the exhibition highlights the role of art and culture in promoting dialogue and understanding between nations.

“Art and music transcend boundaries. Through exhibitions like Afrobeat Rebellion, we celebrate not just artistic expression but shared values of freedom, creativity, and dialogue. Fela’s legacy reminds us that culture is a powerful tool for unity and for inspiring positive change.”

He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to cultural cooperation with Africa, noting that the Team Europe initiative supports creative industries and people-to-people connections through art, music, and education.

“From Paris to Lagos, Afrobeat Rebellion represents a partnership between Africa and Europe rooted in respect, creativity, and shared humanity,” Mignot added.

The exhibition’s arrival in Lagos, often called the heartbeat of Afrobeat, marks a symbolic homecoming for the movement.