Media releases > Black President festival

Black President: The music, art & legacy of Fela Kuti.

A major Barbican festival supporting VSO

• 9 Sept – 24 Oct: Exhibition (The Curve Gallery)
• 2-17 Oct: Music Festival (Barbican Hall, LSO St Lukes, Cargo)
• 2-3 Oct: Film series (Barbican Screen)  

In September and October 2004 the Barbican presents BLACK PRESIDENT, a major multi-arts festival dedicated to the life, music, art, and legacy of African icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. With a key art exhibition in The Curve gallery, a major music festival and a series of films, ‘Black President’ will pay homage to one of the most influential African figures of the 20th Century - bearing testimony to the enduring and increasingly global legacy of a musical, political and cultural revolutionary. 

The musician who invented Afrobeat with a synthesis of American funk and soul, British taught jazz, Nigerian ‘Highlife’ and Yoruba rhythms. The rebel who fought the corruption of the Nigerian Government. The campaigner who stood up for the poor and oppressed of Africa. The icon who epitomised the style and vibrancy of African culture. Fela Kuti truly embodied Africa in the 20th Century, his rallying cry ever more relevant into the 21st. Tragically Fela died aged just 59 of an AIDS related illness. 

The festival is supporting international development charity VSO. Fela was one of 20 million Africans who have died of AIDS related illnesses, and VSO works throughout Africa raising awareness of HIV and AIDS. The charity is a founder member of the Stop AIDS campaign that is calling on Western governments to take action to stop the pandemic. Visit the VSO stand at the Barbican at the Black President concerts between 2-17 October and sign up to the Stop Aids Campaign. 

The festival also welcomes Fela collaborator, Tony Allen, Fela's long-time drummer who will be joined by Britpop superstar Damon Albarn, Nigerian guitarist Kezia Jones and English soul MC TY (9 October). Also appearing is saxophonist Manu Digango whose 1973 hit 'Soul Makossa' made him one of Fela's few African contemporaries to be a star in the West (16 October). There is also music by Fela's two sons - worldwide Afrobeat phenomenon Femi Kuti and his group Positive Force (10 October) and Seun Kuti who plays with his father's band, African 80 (3 October). 

To book tickets or for more information on the festival visit the VSO events diary or call the Barbican Box Office on +44 (0)20 7638 8891. 

For more Black President music info, interviews or images please contact Miles Evans on +44 (0)207 382 7166 or mevans@barbican.org.uk

For more information on VSO please contact Abigail Fulbrook on +44 (0)208 780 7292 or abigail.fulbrook@vso.org.uk or Adam Bowers on +44 (0)208 780 7265 or adam.bowers@vso.org.uk