Felabration announces 2018 theme

The theme, Overtake Don Overtake Overtake, is also the title of a 1989 Fela song. "All of what Fela said has overtaken even today's events," the Felabration committee's media head, Abdul Okwechime, told Music In Africa. "This year's theme is an extension of last year's prophecy theme."

This year’s event will open with the the usual series of discussions, tagged the Fela Debates. According to the committee, this segment of the annual festival “provokes intellectual discourse around topical contemporary African issues".

"These debates seek to engage today’s people in espousing ideas and ideals towards solving the myriad of problems confronting the African continent. It usually parades a pool of discussants from across the various strata of society, each bringing individual’s experience to bear on the chosen topic for the day, from across the continent.”

Last year the renowned Kenyan anti-corruption advocate Patrick Lumumba was the event’s chief speaker. Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has also spoken at the event in the past. This edition’s speaker is yet to be announced but the organisers have promised to invite “world famous personalities”.  

A few weeks before the Fela Debates, a discussion between selected public and private secondary schools will take place as a pre-Felabration event, which is “built around children’s competitiveness in logic”. The topic for debate among the pupils is yet to be announced.

Felabration’s main event is the seven-day music concerts which commences on the night of opening day on 15 October. This year, says the festival, top Nigeria acts have indicated willingness to perform at the festival. Plans are also in top gear to bring in some "five-star international musicians”.

There will also be an art contest as well as a dancing competition. These events will take place only for the second time at the long-running festival, since both were introduced at last year’s edition.

“The Art Competition is usually a contest on Fela-related issues, while the Afrobeat Dance Competition brings out the best in the dancing prowess of the youths,” the organisers said.

This year’s celebration marks the posthumous 80th birthday of the late Afrobeat maestro, who died in 1997.