Highlights From French President Macron’s Visit To New Afrika Shrine
Late Tuesday, French President Macron touched down in Lagos during his visit to Nigeria to talk security and boost culture ties and went directly to the Shrine, where he praised Nollywood — Nige...
French President Emmanuel Macron performs at the Shrine Afrika in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
Late Tuesday, French President Macron touched down in Lagos during his visit to Nigeria to talk security and boost culture ties and went directly to the Shrine, where he praised Nollywood — Nigeria’s massive film industry — and the country’s music.
Describing the concert hall as “iconic”, Macron said that “we have to build a new common narrative” in Africa.
French President Emmanuel Macron (2ndL) laughs with Angelique Kidjo (R) and Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron answers questions during a live interview on Trace tv in the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) poses with Nigerian artists at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (C) waves as he arrives with Akinwunmi Ambode (C/L) and Femi Kuti (C/R) at The New Africa Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / STEFAN HEUNIS
French President Emmanuel Macron performs at the Shrine Afrika in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
french president Emmanuel Macron (C) takes a selfie with Nollywood artists during a live show in the AfriKa Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
People take pictures of French President Emmanuel Macron (out of frame) as he arrives to take part of a live show at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets with a young boy who drew a portrait of him during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and artist Femi Kuti wave to the crowd during a visit to the Afrika Shrine during a live show in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) watches Nigerian musician Femi Kuti perform at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks next to Mauritanian film director Abderrahmane Sissako at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) poses for a selfie with Nigerian artists Femi Kuti, Youssou N’Dour and Angelique Kidjo at the Shrine Afrika in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (C) walks with Femi Kuti (C/L) as he arrives at The New Africa Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / STEFAN HEUNIS
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) dances next to Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (L) at the Shrine Afrika in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) laughs with Angelique Kidjo (2ndR) and Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (2ndL) at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron answers questions during a live interview on Trace tv in the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French president Emmanuel Macron and film maker Abderrahmane Cissakor (L) take part of a movie scene at the Shrine Africa in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) arrives to take part of a live show in the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (3rdL) and Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (3rdR) dance at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (2ndL) poses with Nigerian musician Femi Kuti (L) and Senegalese singer Youssou N’dour (2ndR) at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
(FromL) Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo, Nigerian musician Femi Kuti and Senegalese singer Youssou N’dour perform at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets with a young boy who drew a portrait of him during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) arrives to take part of a live show in the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) is welcomed by Nigerian officials and a flowergirl as he arrives in Abuja on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
Senegalese singer Youssou N’dour watches a live show at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos on July 3, 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ludovic MARIN
“You have to recognise the bad and negative pages of this history, but you have to move forward,” he said to applause.
Macron launched the African Cultural Season which will take place in France in 2020, at an event showcasing music, fashion and theatre.
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The choice of location surprised many Nigerians given its association with the anti-establishment musician.
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No elected president is believed to have previously officially visited the spiritual home of the so-called “Black President”, which is more synonymous with marijuana smoke and gyrating dancers than diplomatic niceties.
When asked about life as an intern in Nigeria, Macron was tight-lipped about his past.
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“Obviously I will not share all those memories because what happens in the Shrine remains in the Shrine,” Macron said to huge cheers and laughs.
On Wednesday, the president is set to inaugurate the new Alliance Francaise, a cultural centre, and is scheduled to meet young Nigerian entrepreneurs.
