LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) – French President Emmanuel Macron has shaken up a two-day visit to Nigeria with a stop at the New Afrika Shrine, a concert hall founded by the late music legend Fela Kuti.
Macron also held talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on security in Africa’s vast Sahel region as the extremist threat grows from groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization.
Macron’s visit to Africa’s most populous nation ends Wednesday.
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron, left, performs with a drum at the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
His visit to the New Afrika Shrine was for a launch event for the 2020 Season of African Cultures in France.
Macron also is inaugurating an Alliance Francaise cultural center in Lagos and meeting young Nigerian entrepreneurs.
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron, center, poses for a selfie with Nigerian artists at the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, is presented with a talking drum by artist Ara, during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, is invited on the stage by Femi Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, right, and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, walk on the red carpet after a joint press conference held at the Presidential State House, in Abuja, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, learn how to dance Nigeria music dance steps during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, right, embraces his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, after a joint press conference held at the Presidential State House, in Abuja, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, takes a selfie with Nigeria Nollywood Actors during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, speaks with Femi Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, left, during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, right, and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, walk on the red carpet after a joint press conference held at the Presidential State House, in Abuja, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron, center, poses for a selfie with Nigerian artists at the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, watches performers during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived in Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron answers questions during a live interview on Trace TV during the New Afrika Shrine, in Lagos, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron meets with a young boy who drew a portrait of him during a visit to the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shares a laugh with Angelique Kidjo, End right) and Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, 2nd left, at the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, is filmed during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived in Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron answers questions during a live interview on Trace TV during the New Afrika Shrine, in Lagos, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron, 2nd left, poses with Nigerian musician Femi Kuti, left, and Senegalese singer Youssou N’dour, 2nd right, at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Nigeria in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, dances with Femi Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, during an event to celebrate African Culture at the New Afrika shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Macron arrived in Abuja earlier for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this picture taken on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Nigeria’s guard of honor stand at attention before a meeting between Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Presidential State House, in Abuja, Nigeria. Macron has arrived in Abuja for a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest attempt to forge closer ties with English-speaking Africa. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)