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11-Year-Old Kareem Olamilekan Draws French President, Emmanuel Macron, in 2 Hours in Lagos | Macron Reacts

11-Year-Old Kareem Olamilekan Draws French President, Emmanuel Macron, in 2 Hours in Lagos | Macron Reacts

French President, Emmanuel Macron is on a 2-day visit to Nigerian and while in the country he visited the New Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s iconic Afrikan Shrine in Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday for an event.

The 40-year-old President, who is married to his 64-year-old former teacher, Brigitte Trogneux arrived the night club in a casual white shirt, with sleeves rolled up and was seen at the balcony, acknowledging cheers from a large crowd of Nollywood actors, actresses and entertainers.

The event held to showcase and celebrate African culture was hosted by Nigerian Artist and performer Banky W and Kenturah King.

An eleven year old boy, Kareem Walis Olamilekan, wowed everyone at the event. The talented boy artistically drew a portrait of the President at the New Afrikan Shrine.

President Macron was very touched when he saw the portrait. The President took to his official Presidential twitter account to praise and congratulate the talented boy.

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“Very touched, congratulations to this young boy!”  French president said when he met with the young artist who sketched him.

Despite the pressure of drawing the President of France on the spot, Kareem completed the hyperrealist drawing in just 2 hours, reports suggest.

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Also present at the event were Nigerian lawmaker, Ben Murray-Bruce, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka and Veteran Nollywood actor and actress Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva.
While speaking at a joint press conference with President Muhammadu Buhari after their bilateral talks held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja earlier on Tuesday, President Macron, gave reasons behind his decision to visit the Afrikan Shrine as part of his visit to Nigeria.
Macron who recalled his days in Nigeria about 15 years ago, noted that it was an emotional come-back, especially as he never imagined he would return to Abuja one day as President of France.
He said the visit was a good opportunity to return the Afrikan Shrine, a place he described as ‘iconic place for African people and culture’, adding that apart from a personal pleasure the African Shrine holds for him, he also recognised the importance of African culture.
The French president is also expected to inaugurate the headquarters of Alliance Francaise, a French Language and Cultural Centre in Ikoyi on July 4.

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Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama told newsmen in Abuja that the visit would enhance ties and trade relations between France and Nigeria.

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He added that it would also be the first formal meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the French President since assumption of Office.

The New Afrika Shrine is the venue of the annual Felebration Music Festival which is currently managed by Femi Kuti and Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti.

 

 

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