Culture, Collaboration, and Craftsmanship
Shakara x Lemi Ghariokwu
Establishing a remarkable collaboration with Nigeria's pioneering craft brewery, Bature Brewery. This innovative project places the work of internationally acclaimed artist Lemi Ghariokwu at the core of the design process, not only celebrating West Africa's vibrant heritage but also amplifying the burgeoning craft beer movement in the region.
A career spanning over 40 years, Lemi Ghariokwu has created some of the most iconic album artworks for Fela Kuti, a founder of Afrobeat, now Afrobeats. At the heart of this collaboration is Shakara, made using Zobo, a popular Nigerian botanical, which gives this incredible pink colour to the beer.
The collaboration involved designing Bature's innovative new beer, Shakara, while creating a visual identity for the brewery’s Felabration 2023, the annual music and art festival honouring the icon Fela Kuti in Lagos, where the beer was launching.
Shakara, a tribute to one of Fela Kuti's songs, pays homage to the vibrant and colorful culture of Nigeria with its bright pink hue and notes of strawberry and pomegranate, crafted from popular Nigerian botanical zobo.
The collaborative partnership between ourselves and Lemi Ghariokwu involved capturing the essence of the beer, its cultural significance and translating this across the designs for the products artwork, packaging, and related materials. Shakara symbolises the enduring legacy of Fela Kuti and enhances Lagos' status as a cultural hub, resonating with the spirit of Afrobeat.
The collaboration culminated in the unveiling of Shakara at Felabration 2023. Working on the visual identity for Bature Brewery’s Felabration, we wanted to create something that could celebrate the heritage of the festival, mixing a contemporary approach working hand-in-hand with Lemi. Celebrating not only the rich cultural heritage, but also the profound influence encapsulated in Fela Kuti's music, this project serves as a vibrant testament to the unifying potential of art, culture, and craft.
FELABRATION 2023 AT BATURE BREWERY
We wanted to showcase the transformative power of art and culture in the West African craft beer industry. By celebrating Nigerian heritage and engaging with the vibrant artistry of Lemi Ghariokwu, this collaboration has not only expanded Bature Brewery's reach but also elevated their story, their identity and their ethos. It underlines the impact of thoughtful, culturally aligned collaborations in creating a lasting connection with the audience while preserving and celebrating the unique cultural identity of the region.
- Collaborators -
Lemi Ghariokwu
Zoe Buyers:
Animation Support
Ibrahim Israel / NAVI
Photography / Videography Lagos
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