National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Over 15 official "Felabrations" have been confirmed to take place in more than 15 cities across the country throughout the month of October. The events commemorate the birthday of the legendary Nigerian singer and bandleader Fela Kuti, who would have turned 71 on October 15th.

The Felabrations will bring together some of the best DJs, musicians, and promoters working today to celebrate the life, music, and birthday of Fela. With the support of esteemed DJs such as Rich Medina, DJ Spinna, Ron Trent, DJ Nu-Mark, DJ Day, Jeremy Sole, DJ Kemit, J-Justice, Adam Gibbons, DJ Sun, Chicken George and Frank Gossner, as well as artists such as Roy Ayers, WUNMI, Ikebe Shakdown, Baba Ola Jagun, Amon, and many more, these events will bring together the diverse communities and tastemakers across the country who are instrumental in keeping Fela's music alive.

The events also celebrate the re-mastering and reissue of the entirety of Kuti's catalogue, beginning on October 27 with the CD and CD-Deluxe with DVD release of the compilation The Best Of The Black President, as well as the musical FELA! beginning previews at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Broadway on October 19 and the musician's birthday.

The original Felabrations date back to the early 1970s when Fela and his band took over the courtyard of the Empire Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, and performed several nights a week to thousands of worshipping fans. "The Shrine," as the courtyard came to be known, became a very popular nightspot and the audience was made up of everyone from the youths of Lagos to professors, civil servants, government officials and even soldiers. And of course, the Shrine was a center for much more than music. To quote Michael E. Veal in his book, Fela: The Life and Times of an African Musical Icon, "more than a mere entertainment club, Fela considered it an actual shrine to his ideological heroes - a space in which his politcal inclinations fused with musical incantations to assume spiritual dimensions." Now, Felabration is an annual festival dedicated to the promotion of Afrobeat and African culture and to the preservation of Fela's legend and artistry.

Ocotober 2009 Felabrations Events:

10/12: HOUSTON: Rocksteady Mondays presents: Felabration! w/ DJ Sun & DJ Chicken George @ The Flat

10/12: PORTLAND: Felabration! w/ Rev. Shines, DJ Santo & more @ Someday Lounge

10/14: NEW YORK (Brooklyn): Voodoo Funk & Giant Step present: Felabration! w/ DJ Frank Gossner and Ikebe Shakedown @ The Knitting Factory

10/14: MIAMI: The Electric Pickle, Champion Sound, & Giant Step present: Felabration! w/ DJs Mr. Brown, Sire Esq, & A-Train + special guest Djinji Brown @ The Electric Pickle

10/14: OAKLAND: Soul.Profess presents: RECESS / Felabration! w/ special guest DJ Cecil & live performance by Delina Brooks @ AIR Lounge

10/15: NEW YORK (Downtown): Jump'n'Funk, Libation, FELA! & S.O.B.'s present: Felabration! w/ DJ's Rich Medina & Ian Friday @ S.O.B.'s

10/15: LOS ANGELES: Afro Funke' presents Felabration! w/ DJ Nu-Mark, Amon (on percussion), resident DJs Jeremy Sole & Glenn Red, host Rocky Dawuni + special guests @ Zanzibar

10/15: SEATTLE: SunTzu & Giant Step present: Blueprint / Felabration! w/ SunTzu Sound DJs, special guest Ohmega Watts, & more @ Grey Gallery & Lounge

10/15: MEXICO (Playa Del Carmen): Uhuru Afrika presents: Fela Lives! w/ DJs Adam Gibbons, Sabine, & more @ Mi Casa Es Su Casa Holiday

10/16: LOS ANGELES: Footlong Development & Frolab present: Jump'n'Funk w/ DJ Rich Medina + opening set by DJ Marvski @ Tantra

10/16: CHICAGO: Listen:Up presents Felabration! w/ DJ Ron Trent & DJ Spinna @ The Shrine

10/17: SAN FRANCISCO: Giant Step presents: Jump'n'Funk w/ DJ Rich Medina

10/17/2009 - WASHINGTON, DC: ESL & Giant Step present: Felabration! w/ DJ Day & live performance by The Donvonte McCoy Sextet feat. Mavis Water @ ESL

10/17/2009 - DENVER: Afroblu presents Felabration! w/ DJ Santos, resident DJs RJ Duran & CES, and special guests @ The Union

10/24: BOSTON: Uhuru Afrika presents Fela Lives! w/ DJ's: Adam Gibbons, Max Pela, KC Hallett aka KCiv, percussion by Sidy Maiga, & special performance by WUNMI @ All Asia Bar

10/24: ATLANTA: Spread Love + Jump'n'Funk present Felabration! w/ Roy Ayers, Rich Medina, DJ Kemit, Mausiki Scales & Common Ground Collective, DJ Ausuar @ 595 North

10/31: NEW YORK (Harlem): Uhuru Afrika + Soul Funktion present: Fela Lives! w/ DJs: Adam Gibbons, Offbeat, DJ OBah, live percussion by Sidy Maiga, and live performance by Amayo's Fu-Arkestra @ The Shrine