Fela Returns To Life As National Sports Festival ‘Eko 2012′ Officially Opens Today

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the king of Afrobeat comes to life today at the 18th National Sports Festival where President Goodluck Jonathan is also expected  to open the ceremoney.

Peter Badejo, Artistic Director in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies for Eko 2012, while speaking in Lagos, said that Eko 2012 would mark a turning point in the history of the National Sports Festival in terms of creativity.

Badejo stated that spectators would be treated to fireworks, Eyo masquerade, contemporary dancers, royal dancers, calisthenic displays, just as he said that he had conducted research into the history of Lagos to build a concept for the Eko 2012 Games.

He said that the event would be a big cast of 4,000 people in different capacities as it also accommodated the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti music, entitled ‘Water no get enemy’ adding that about 200 of the Afrobeat legend dancers were used in the production as well as his band.

“Well, it is a big cast, we have almost 4,000 people in different capacities. We have calisthenic display by 1,000 pupils, We have the Eyo masquerade as I said, we have the Eyo dancers, the royal dancers and the royal female drummers, who initiate Eyo from its beginning. Then we have the contemporary dancers who will come with their expressions in things like the anthem, theme music and the National Anthem.

“Eko 2012 would be different from what had been witnessed in the past. Lagos is very rich in terms of its culture and formative experience. The content of displays at the previous sports festivals was always the same but we are going to come out with something unique,” he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for Eko 2012, Abba Yola, 11,549 participants and 350 journalists have been accredited for the Games where 25 events are to be competed for.