French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Lagos on Tuesday
evening to the Shrine, Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti’s music venue, to celebrate
Nigerian and African culture.....
“I’m very happy to be here with you tonight,”
said Macron, addressing the cheering and whistling crowd in English. Macron
went directly to the Shrine from Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, where he met with
President Muhammadu Buhari on the second day of his visit to West Africa after
Mauritania on Monday.
The French president said he was happy to return to
Nigeria, where he had done an internship at the French embassy in 2002 and had
visited the Shrine. Describing the concert hall as “iconic”, Macron said that
“we have to build a new common narrative” in Africa.
“You have to recognize the
bad and negative pages of this history, but you have to move forward,” he said
to applause. Macron, who had taken off his jacket and tie, was at the Shrine to
announce the launch of the African Cultural Season which takes place in France
in 2020, showcasing music, fashion, cinema and theatre.
The choice of venue
surprised some Nigerians, who associate the Shrine with the anti-establishment
musician.
French President
Emmanuel Macron arrived in Lagos on Tuesday evening to the Shrine,
Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti’s music venue, to celebrate Nigerian and
African culture.
“I’m very happy to be here with you tonight,” said Macron, addressing
the cheering and whistling crowd in English.
Macron went directly to the Shrine from Nigeria’s capital of Abuja,
where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari on the second day of his
visit to West Africa after Mauritania on Monday.
The French president said he was happy to return to Nigeria, where he
had done an internship at the French embassy in 2002 and had visited the
Shrine.
Describing the concert hall as “iconic”, Macron said that “we have to
build a new common narrative” in Africa.
“You have to recognise the bad and negative pages of this history, but
you have to move forward,” he said to applause.
Macron, who had taken off his jacket and tie, was at the Shrine to
announce the launch of the African Cultural Season which takes place in
France in 2020, showcasing music, fashion, cinema and theatre.
The choice of venue surprised some Nigerians, who associate the Shrine
with the anti-establishment musician.
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/photos-president-emmanuel-macron-at-the-shrine/
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/photos-president-emmanuel-macron-at-the-shrine/
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