From August 18 to August 28, 2023, the Africa Center in London will host a fascinating exhibition entitled ‘FUJI: A Opera’, paying tribute to the Fuji music genre. Without Fuji, popular Afrobeats artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid who sell out stadiums around the world today would not have emerged.
‘FUJI: A Opera’ promises an immersive experience through never-before-seen archive footage, artefacts and immersive installations, narrating the fascinating history of Fuji music from its turbulent history to its founding days and its rich subculture since ancient times. From the 1960s to the present day.
Visitors will be transported back in time through past performances, sound installations and evocative archival images of Fuji Music’s 60-year history. The journey begins with Ajiwere’s recording of traditional music for Muslim worshipers during Ramadan on the island of Lagos, where Fuji music grew up.
The exhibition showcases rare instruments used in the early days of Fuji music, including Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, who played a major role in taking the genre to the next level from the 1980s until now. .
‘FUJI: A Opera’ captures the vibrant energy of Fuji music with a listening gallery featuring archive footage, a photographic wall of famous album covers and live performances, as well as fashion pieces worn by Fuji artists throughout history.
Bobo Omotayo, founder of ‘FUJI: A Opera’, said, “Now feels like the right time to celebrate the incredible impact of Fuji’s music, how it began and its lasting impact. Without Fuji, there would be no Afrobeats. Artists like King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall have given so much to music – it’s time we celebrate their legacy. With a huge Nigerian community in London and close ties to Lagos, I am proud to bring ‘FUJI: A Opera’ to the Africa Center this summer.
The longest-running Fuji subculture exhibition of our time, ‘FUJI: A Opera’, which originally opened in Nigeria in 2020, is now making its international debut at the Africa Center in the UK. In the year
Amidst the international success of Nigerian artists such as Rema, Asake, Davido, Burna Boy and Wizkid who continue to make waves in the UK music scene, the timing of ‘FUJI: A Opera’ is perfect. It invites music fans to reflect on the origins of Nigerian music, witness its evolution and appreciate the significant global impact it has had on the music industry today.
Tickets for ‘FUJI: A Opera’ are on sale now at www.fujiopera.com.
