President Emmanuel Macron of France arrived Nigeria yesterday 3rd July 2018 and immediately met with the Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari breifly before making his way to Lagos for a historic visit to Fela’s Afrika Shrine where he was welcomed with an artistically drawn portrait of himself by an 11-year-old Nigerian boy, Kareem Olamilekan
The portrait was presented to the president by Banky W who did not fail to talk about the talents we have in Nigeria and Africa.
President Macron posted on his Instagram page a short video of the boy (Kazeem) as he went ahead to congratulate him. In his own words:
“Very touched, congratulations to this young boy!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkyXkvrlHuE/?taken-by=emmanuelmacron
Governor of Lagos state His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode was present with the son and daughter of late Fela Femi and Yeni Anikolakpokuti.
Macron, Ambode and Kazeem 11-year-old
Revealing one of the motives behind his visit to the shrine, he mentioned to TVC that:
“First, because I wanted to find a good occasion to come back there. I know the place and I have some memories, I have to confess at a time that there was no president around, I hope I will not spoil the party.“First, I think that is such an iconic place for a lot of African people and African culture. And I think very often when you speak of the African culture in Europe, those who are successful in Europe and in France, which is different most of the times are not dramatically very famous in Nigeria or in Africa. And there is a bias because you know people are absolutely not the same. I mean Fela, Femi, Seun Kuti are obviously very famous in France and Europe, I mean they are big successes but the Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and it is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognize the importance of this place, I recognize the place of culture in this current environment,”
President Emmanuel Macron had 15 years ago been to Nigeria for a 6 months internship with the fresh embassy and he is excited to be back again. recalling back, he stated that he never knew he would return back to the country as a president. this made him really excited.
