The world again felt the relevance of afro beat on Friday when the African Cup of Nations opened with a blaze of songs and choreography.
Exhibiting the afro beat legacy was Femi Kuti, son of legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who bequeathed the genre to the world.
Home and abroad, afro beat has continued to be relevant.
Across Europe and beyond, more artistes are taking to the phenomenon, while it is attracting more converts among Nigerian contemporary artistes, some of whom have actually reaped fortunes from it.
Among them are Oritsefei and Wizkid, who have made acclaimed songs in the genre.
While Femi and his bother, Seun, are breaking new grounds with afro beat, to the extent that both have earned Grammy nominations – Femi about three times now – the music again break through the Savannah on Friday, with the Nile, Niger and the Kilimanjaro echoing the moving rhythms from the heart of Cairo.
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was heralded with a spectacular and colourful opening ceremony inside the jam-packed 75, 000 capacity Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.
As the News Agency of Nigeria also reports, the Egyptians did not disappoint with a well choreographed and technological propelled opening ceremony, on Friday night.
The breath-taking ceremony had in attendance, Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi who delivered a welcome address, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino and CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad among other dignitaries.
“I welcome all of you, our dear African brothers, in your second homeland, wishing you happiness,” Al-Sisi said in his address
Nigeria’s legendary Afro-beat singer, Femi Kuti was subsequently joined on stage by Egyptian pop singer and Dobet Gnahoré of Ivory Coast as they performed their new song Metgamaeen (Together), whose lyrics are in Arabic, English and French.
The short but glamourous ceremony was brought to an end with colourful fire works that lit up the stadium.
It was followed by an equally entertaining match between host Egypt and Zimbabwe – with the hosts carrying the day with a lone goal.
