3 Global Icons & Their "Lagos Na Wa" Experiences

Mohammed Ali: The World Heavyweight Champ visited Lagos in June 1964 and treated himself to the Island’s hospitality. He’s pictured here in his agbada receiving love from some Lagos Island youngsters with attitude who trooped out to receive the “toughest man in the world”.

James Brown: The Godfather of Soul visited Lagos with his band in 1970 and were blown away when they witnessed Fela’s performance at the Afrika Shrine. Bootsy Collins, one of James Brown members had this to say -

"We were telling them they're the funkiest cats we ever heard in our life. I mean, this is the James Brown band, but we were totally wiped out! That was one trip I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.'" 

JB is pictured here with men of the Nigerian Airforce.

Sir Paul McCartney: He arrived in Nigeria in August 1972 to record an album with his band – Wings. He overlooked offers to record in “beaten paths” like Brazil and America and chose to record in Lagos because he felt that he would have a nice relaxing time lazing at the beach all day and recording music at night. He rented a comfortable crib in Ikeja, then about an hour’s drive from EMI Studios at Apapa, where he was to record the album. He got a rough Lagos welcome and was “obtained” at knife-point while taking a walk in some lonely neighbourhood as well as harassed by Fela when he tried to recruit some members of abami eda’s band members. After a while he toughened up and the album eventually became one of McCartney’s most successful projects. It was humorously titled “Band on the Run”.