Africa Express: its past in pictures

Clubbing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2010, with Bashy and Kano on the mic Photograph: Simon Phipps The ancient city of Harar, Ethiopia, the fourth Holy city of Islam, visited by Africa Express in 2010 Photograph: Simon Phipps Africa Express on stage at the famous La Cigale in Paris in 2010. The 2010 World Cup squads of Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana attended the concert. Artists on stage include Damon Albarn, Amadou Bagayoko, Fatoumata Diawara, Basement Jaxx, Bashy and Remi Kabaka Photograph: Simon Phipps Rehearsals at the Hotel Aqua Parks, Lagos 2008. From left: Amadou Bagayoko, Gruff Rhys, Romeo Stoddart, Baaba Maal, Faada Freddy, Rocco (Hypnotic Brass) Sam Duckworth and Smoov (Hypnotic Brass). Photograph: Simon Phipps Romeo Stoddart, Flea, and Sola Akingbola playing with Africa Express at the New Afrika Shrine, Lagos, Nigeria in 2008 during “Felebration”, a concert honouring Fela Kuti around the time of his birthdate. Photograph: Simon Phipps The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Damon Albarn and locals taking a turn on the mic at Bar Beach in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2008 Photograph: Simon Phipps Fela Kuti's birthplace – Abeokuta, Nigeria 2008. The importance of the motorbike as a mode of transport in Africa cannot be underestimated Photograph: Simon Phipps The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble performing with Africa Express at Place de l’Hotel de Ville in Paris, in 2009 Photograph: Simon Phipps Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria 2008. Lagos has grown exponentially over the last couple of decades to become a megacity with a population unofficially estimated at more than 20 million Photograph: Simon Phipps An expectant crowd at the New Afrika Shrine, Lagos 2008, opened by Femi and Yeni Kuti following the forced closure by the Nigerian authorities of the original Shrine created by their father Fela Kuti Photograph: Simon Phipps Ebony Bones performing with Africa Express at Place de l’Hotel de Ville in Paris, 2009 Photograph: Simon Phipps Onstage at the Liverpool Olympia in 2008 – with Amy Sacko, Vieux Farka Toure, Bassekou Kouyate & Amadou Bagayoko Photograph: Simon Phipps