Africa Shrine – The new and the old

The New Africa Shrine as it is known today is a large entertainment venue located in Ijeka, Lagos.  The Africa Shrine was originally established by Fela Kuti in the 1970’s in what was then a nightclub in the Empire hotel, and later changing its name to the Afrom-Spot before evenutally becoming the Africa Shrine. Fela became a regular performer at the shrine, becoming involved in traditional Yoruba ceremonies to honour Nigeria’s ancestral faith.  

In 1977 the Shrine burnt to the ground but was rebuilt to become an iconic venue in Lagos. Today the shrine is managed by Femi Kuti, Fela’s oldest son who is also a regular performer. The show which I should have seen was unfortunately cancelled the night I went. I had to drown my sorrows together with tinyteddy in a bottle of palm wine, probably the most disgusting drink I have ever tried.

The evening was somewhat saved by being in the excellent company of my guides Rory and Ray and a traditional Nigerian snack of spicy meat.

Tinyteddy’s feedback: “Let’s set the record straight here I am strictly a teetotaller so dont include me when it comes to the palm wine. I simply posed next to the bottle and that was against my better wishes”