Jun 10
7
“Fela who? On Broadway?”
broadwayworld.com
He is the unquestionable high priest of Afrobeat Music, and Afrobeat to him was a deadly weapon. He is a Nigerian, an African and a maverick to the core.
He hated the former military governments of Nigeria for their corruption and composed insulting songs to shame them – and suffered greatly for it.
He was notorious for lining up several women as wives – a polygamist of a high order.
He created a communal compound to house his family, band members, and a recording studio, which he called Kalakuta Republic, and then declared it was independent of the government of Nigeria.
Like many other historic figures, he is very well known by one name: Fela. But he was born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a name later shortened to Fela Anikulapo Kuti, or shorter still, Fela Kuti.
Fela died from AIDS more than 12 years ago, but he has recently been resurrected on New York’s Broadway – at the Eugene O’neil Theatre. A team, led by Tony-Award winner, Bill T. Jones put it together, with the following introduction:
FELA! is the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation. Inspired by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity. FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti’s captivating music.
Fela was born into a privileged family. In 1958, he was sent to the UK to study medicine, but on arrival, chose music. After some years, he returned to Nigeria, having already formed a band.
Seeking a new direction for his music, he went to Ghana in 1967, where he first called his brand of music Afrobeat. Next stop was the United States, where he fell for the Black Power Movement and soon became politically and culturally radical.
The resulting influence determined the course of the rest of his musical career, as he used music as an instrument to question, challenge and thoroughly ridicule the political establishment. Fela’s music was very popular in Nigeria and West Africa, especially because he sang mostly in pidgin English.
Fela remained a huge controversial figure until his death in 1997. But equally huge was his standing as a talented multi-instrumentalist, composer, and pioneer of Afrobeat music. He died as a genius who did not achieve worldwide fame in his lifetime.
When the Broadway show opened several months ago, some people were hearing of him for the first time. The New York Times said the show about Fela faces basic questions like “Fela who? On Broadway?”
But for those who knew Fela Kuti, his post-mortem appearance on Broadway is an unmistakable acknowledgement that he would not be forgotten too soon.
PS: click here to see clips on the night “Fela!” opened.
