FELA THE NEW MUSICAL

For years the theatre scene has been dominated by dynamic South African plays that showcased the joyous and rhythmic sounds of the country such as Sarafina and Umoja. The new musical FELA directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones hit the off Broadway stage, 37 Arts Theatre, and delivered a powerful musical production based on the life of West Africaʼs creator of Afro Beat, Fela Kuti.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, creator of Afro beat music, human rights activist, and political maverick. He is ranked among the worldʼs most influential musicians. FELA the musical is a provocative hybrid of concert; dance and musical theater that is more like a sensational musical experience then just a play about a Nigerian musician turned revolutionary who challenged the corrupt Nigerian government under the leadership of Obasanjo. For two hours and forty minutes the theatre rocked and was transformed into an Afro beat jungle. The set was created to look like Felaʼs funky album covers which included his political heroes like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. as well as his personal hero, his mother Funmilayo who was killed by Obasajoʼs army. The ANTIBALAS, a popular Brooklyn-based collective, warmed the crowd with their high energy Afro beat music before the production started. The phenomenal cast was lead by Sahr Ngaujah who gave a show stopping performance as Fela. The New York Star called his performance Star-making and hypnotic. The show was so remarkable that it opened September 4th and was scheuduled to close on September 21, but was extended to October 5^th.

Currently FELA is still an off broadway sensation. To see more info about FELA and how to send this awesome production to Broadway please visit http://www.felaoffbroadway.com.

Check out the FELA trailer and interviews with the Cast below:

FELA the New Musical

Interview with Sahr Nguagh

Interview with director Bill T. Jones

Broadway Musical of Fela Kuti