In Lagos, Nigeria, restaurants are creatively preserving the legacy of the renowned musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the pioneering force behind the Afrobeat genre. His influence continues to resonate, not only through music but also through culinary experiences that pay homage to his powerful art. This blending of food and culture transforms dining into a journey through African music history.
Fela Kuti, who rose to prominence in the early 1970s, combined jazz, highlife, funk, and Yoruba rhythms with politically charged lyrics. His songs addressed issues of corruption, oppression, and postcolonial disillusionment, making them not just artistic expressions but also rallying cries for change. Today, dishes named after his iconic protest songs are becoming staples in Lagos restaurants, inviting diners to engage with his legacy in new and meaningful ways.
Culinary Tributes to a Musical Icon
One notable establishment, The Afrobeat, opened in May 2025 at EbonyLife Place, a prominent entertainment complex in Lagos. It positions itself as the world’s first restaurant exclusively dedicated to celebrating Afrobeat. This venue offers more than just meals; it curates a complete cultural experience that intertwines food with the vibrant sounds of Fela’s music.
Notably, Kuti’s Bistro, launched in 2019 by Seun Kuti, Fela’s youngest son, was among the first to merge Fela’s culinary influence with his musical heritage. Although currently closed for in-person dining, Kuti’s Bistro continues to deliver meals that draw on diverse African culinary traditions. Its atmosphere was heavily influenced by Afrobeat imagery and sound, with walls adorned in art inspired by Fela. The bistro’s menu featured dishes with evocative names, such as “Yanga” for breakfast, “Roforofo Fight” for a main course, and “Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am” for dessert.
These names are more than playful references; they serve to transform Fela’s work into a living memory. The combination of food and music creates a rich cultural experience, inviting diners to engage with Fela’s legacy through all their senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and memory.
The Challenge of Commercialization
Despite the celebration of Fela’s legacy, the transformation of protest songs into menu items raises important questions. Can a song like “Expensive Shit,” originally a sharp critique of state oppression, maintain its political significance when presented as a dessert? Does the commercialization of his work dilute its power, or can it open new avenues for engagement?
This phenomenon is not isolated to Fela’s legacy. Around the globe, radical art often undergoes a process of commodification, evolving into celebrated cultural products while sometimes losing the intensity that originally defined them. Yet, this shift does not always negate significance. For younger diners, who may only recognize Fela as a historical figure, a menu item can spark curiosity, potentially leading them to explore his music and the political context behind it.
Fela’s artistic vision was about creating spaces for African identity. In the 1970s and 80s, this was embodied in his nightclub, the Afrika Shrine, where music and resistance coalesced. Today, it may manifest at a restaurant table in Lagos, where dishes like “I No Be Gentleman” are served as vibrant culinary experiences.
As Fela’s music continues to inspire various art forms, including theatre, literature, and film, the emergence of Afrobeat-themed restaurants illustrates the dynamic nature of cultural memory in Africa. These venues are not merely tourist attractions; they are living experiments in honoring a cultural icon while ensuring his relevance in contemporary society.
Ultimately, whether these dining spaces radicalize or entertain, they ensure that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti remains an integral part of Lagos’s cultural landscape, making his legacy not just audible but also tangible through food. In a rapidly evolving city, this culinary tribute may prove to be one of the most enduring ways to celebrate a musical legend.
