The New Afrika Shrine, one of Nigeria’s most symbolic homes of Afrobeat, became a meeting point for gospel and contemporary African music as gospel artiste Testimony Jaga took his message of faith to the iconic venue during Felabration 2026.
Known for his energetic performances and street-oriented approach to gospel music, Jaga delivered a set that brought together faith, rhythm and Nigerian popular culture, turning the Shrine stage into a platform for a message centred on Jesus Christ.
The New Afrika Shrine is deeply associated with the legacy of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the pioneer of Afrobeat, whose music addressed social issues, justice and equality.
Felabration, conceived by Fela’s eldest daughter, Yeni Kuti, in 1998, has grown into an annual celebration of his music, ideas and cultural influence.
Against that backdrop, Jaga’s gospel performance offered a different but equally passionate form of social and spiritual expression.Rather than limiting gospel to conventional church settings, Jaga has built his career around taking it to wider audiences. Through his Street Gospel Movement, which combines music and social outreach, he aims to reach people in spaces beyond traditional church structures. His performance at the Shrine reflected that philosophy.
Jaga, whose real name is Salau Aliu Olayiwola, has become known for a sound that blends gospel with Fuji, Afrobeats, highlife, R&B and dancehall influences.
His approach has positioned him among a new generation of Nigerian gospel performers who are expanding expectations of what gospel music can sound and look like.
At the Shrine, that musical versatility was on full display. The venue has long represented Afrobeat as more than a genre. It is a cultural institution associated with music, activism and freedom of expression. Felabration continues that tradition by bringing artists and audiences together for concerts, exhibitions, debates and other cultural activities.
Jaga’s presence added another layer to that tradition: gospel as a vehicle for public testimony.
With an energetic stage presence and a repertoire designed to engage diverse audiences, the singer used the occasion to proclaim his Christian faith while remaining rooted in the sounds and performance culture of contemporary Nigeria.
For decades, the New Afrika Shrine has served as a gathering place where music and ideas intersect.
The Shrine was established as a continuation of the cultural legacy of Fela Kuti’s original Shrine and has become a central venue for the annual Felabration celebration.
Jaga’s appearance demonstrated how that cultural space can accommodate different expressions of Nigerian identity — where faith, music and culture meet on one stage.
