Nigeria's Afrobeat star Femi Kuti turns 50 on June 16. Interviews with Femi have been all over the Nigerian press. The local papers are more fascinated with Kuti family soap operas than with Femi's music.
Femi's music is of greater interest to me, so I attended Femi's rehearsal on June 7 at the New Africa Shrine in Lagos. I went with Showboy and we were recognized in the audience by the announcer as two Very Important Personalities - Showboy and the white brother who plays tenor sax! What an ego trip. Following that, Showboy was called up on stage and sang with Femi's band for the first time ever, an historic event of sorts. I'll post the recordings soon. Femi showed off his skills at circular breathing on alto.
It was an informal rehearsal and Femi had some of his kids up on stage with him. I took a bunch of photos, more of which can be viewed on Flickr by clicking here. Femi will be going on tour after his birthday and won't be back at the Shrine until the third week of July.
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