Macron in Nigeria: French President relaxes his trip by visiting the disco New Afrika Shrine

In 1977, Nigerian soldiers burnt the legendary concert hall where Fela Kuti performed his protest music that popularized the Afrobeat genre and earned him millions of followers around the world

Kuti is despised by Nigerian military leaders for his controversy. Kuti died in 1997, but Tuesday, the new Afrika sanctuary in Lagos – which replaced the original club The sons of Kuti, Femi and Seun, also musicians, welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron. His visit to the Sanctuary, presumed to be a first by a sitting president, diverted the attention of the previous Macron meeting on extremism with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and shifted his attention somewhat to a celebration of African youth and culture "

" It is perhaps surprising that a French president is going to the shrine, but it will not surprise anyone if I go to Albert Hall or the Met ", said Macron. "We have to change that."

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, receives a talking drum from the Ara artist during a celebration of African culture at New Afrika Shrine. (Sunday Alamba / AP)

At first glance, the shrine may seem far from presidential. An average night, hawkers stay out and a cloud of marijuana smoke envelops guests even before they walk through the front doors. Young men play billiards in the corners, sharing joints next to signs that say "Drugs are not allowed in the sanctuary."

But the concert hall is also one of the most historic landmarks in Lagos. against the establishment, even as he lost his own mother to the violence of Nigerian soldiers. Kuti was arrested many times, and he spent time in prison the last time Buhari was in power, as a military leader who took power in 1983. When AIDS complications killed Kuti in 1997, less than a million people would have marched through the streets of Lagos for his funeral.

While the club was once feared by many Nigerians, who badociated it with an era of violence and crime. , it now attracts a wide variety of guests, hipsters in skinny jeans to older Nigerians dressed from head to toe in traditional clothing.

Macron already knew the place: Long before he was elected president, he was interned at the French Embbady in the capital of Abuja, and he claims to have visited the shrine during the six months that he spent in Nigeria. "I can not tell you everything that happened when I came to the Sanctuary, because what is happening at the Sanctuary remains at the Sanctuary," he said this week.

At a press conference, Macron named place "a cultural center and an iconic crossroads" and said that his visit allows him "to say with great humility that I recognize the importance of this culture, I recognize the place of this culture. "

Rikki Stein, Kuti's close friend, former manager, said at a phone call to the Washington Post that he was "on the moon" about Macron's visit to the Sanctuary [19659011] "France was the first country to promote Fela". I said. "He would have been happy to know that the President of France paid his respects."

Tuesday's special event featured a fashion show, a musical performance and an art exhibition. On Twitter, Macron shared a video of himself sharing the scene with Femi Kuti (seen below holding the microphone in blue and red).

Kuti wrote on Instagram that Macron "is loved, loves the New Africa Shrine. I've heard about it, I think it's concerned and wants to change positve too. #onepeopleoneworld. "