Felabration Hull 2025 came to a close on 18 October with a full day of programming across three venues — Wilberforce House Museum, Ferens Art Gallery, and PQ Event Space — followed by the closing of its month-long exhibition on 2 November. This year’s edition deepened Hull’s cultural landscape by placing the city in direct dialogue with the ideas, music, and global influence of Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti.
The festival began with The Underground Spiritual Game, a visual storytelling exhibition curated by The Gidi Vibes™ and housed at the historic Wilberforce House Museum. Featuring archival materials, photography, and a stunning series of masks by Nigerian artist Abolore Sobayo, the exhibition explored Fela’s activism, spirituality, and artistic rebellion. Sobayo’s presence on opening day — engaging visitors, interpreting the masks, and sharing stories about Yoruba traditions — became one of the event’s most memorable highlights.
The exhibition remained open for a month, welcoming audiences from Hull, Leeds, York, Sheffield, and beyond, many of whom returned to experience it more than once.
At the Ferens Art Gallery, Felabration hosted two major thought-leadership panels with cultural contributors from the UK and Nigeria. Video messages from Rikki Stein, Fela’s long-time manager, and Gui Morais of Symphonic Distribution opened the afternoon, offering personal and industry perspectives on Fela’s global reach. Conversations were then led by Tuoyo Amuka (Vanguard Media), Lolade Nwanze (Daily Times Nigeria), Jenni Harrison, James Paine (DJ RealBeats), Abolore Sobayo, Tolu Olafimihan (GNAtion), Olamide Jasanya, and Fágbèmí Ọ̀ṣìnúgà.
Working with Fela for fifteen years taught me one thing: he lived his truth without compromise. That truth still echoes today. Seeing Felabration take root in a place like Hull shows just how far his message of freedom and courage continues to travel.
Rikki Stein, longtime manager of Fela Kuti
The discussions unpacked Afrobeat’s evolution, fashion and aesthetics in Black creativity, Hull’s emerging identity as a music city, and the role of communities in shaping cultural heritage.
At PQ Event Space, the festival continued with a community screening of Finding Fela, followed by the Sauti Sessions Block Party — a live music showcase featuring four Yorkshire-based performers: BOG, H.I.M The Sage, Admiral Josh, and DJ Nas B. The evening amplified the festival’s mission to platform African and diaspora talent from the region.
The festival’s programme closed with a final closing ceremony at Wilberforce House Museum on 2 November. Guests like former Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, Glynis Neslen, Siddi Majubah amongst others, reflected on African creativity, resistance, community memory, and the relevance of Fela’s message in today’s cultural and political climate. Their conversation served as a thoughtful close to more than a month of public engagement.
Felabration Hull 2025 may have ended, but its impact continues — through the conversations it sparked, the artists it connected, and the audiences it brought together across Hull. Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, volunteered, and shared in this celebration of African creativity and cultural heritage.
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