FELA!

Fela!, the musical immortalises the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation. The show is a triumphant tale of courage and passion, featuring Kutiâs captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award-winner Bill T Jones. Inspired by his mother, a civil rights champion, Kuti defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human rights.

The Metropolitan Black Police Association is once again proud to present its annual Celebration Of Life concert, bringing together some of the finest names in contemporary music for a night of fantastic entertainment and raising awareness in support of the MetBPA’s anti-violence initiative ‘Revival’.

Sahr Ngaujah (who won an Obie Award for his performance as Fela Kuti) leads a new cast for the London production, with Rolan Bell alternating the role at certain performances.

Fela Ransome Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, in 1938. His father was a Christian schoolmaster and minister and his mother was a feminist leader, who was very active in the anti-colonial Nigerian womenâs movement during the struggle for independence. Fela was educated in Nigeria amongst the indigenous elite. Ironically, many of his classmates in his Nigerian school would become the very military leaders he so vociferously opposed.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was arrested more than two hundred times in his life, and charged with almost every conceivable crime, although only serving one eighteen month sentence in jail for a currency violation. Despite this constant harassment he continued to live in Nigeria. His death in 1997 of complications from AIDS deeply affected musicians and fans internationally, as a unique and ineffable musical and sociopolitical voice was lost. In Nigeria one million people attended his funeral. His incredible body of work, almost 70 albums, is now available all over the world.

In America, the Broadway show is produced by Shawn âJay-Zâ Carter and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. Last month the show was joined by Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist Patti LaBelle who joined the cast as Felaâs mother (Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti).

Fela! is currently showing at
The Olivier Theatre,
Royal National Theatre,
Southbank,
London SE1.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/felalondon.

BacK: Entertainment