A funky bass line, a horn section that would make James Brown holler and booty-gyrating that is so electrifying, it’s hard to sit in your seat. I would have expected this if I were going to a club but not to a musical.
For my birthday, I treated myself to the musical Fela! that is showing at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington, DC. As I sat down to the practically sold out performance, I knew that I would be entertained. I did not know how much I would be intrigued to learn more about social activism in Nigeria.
Fela!, produced by Jay-Z, Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith and directed by choreographer Bill T. Jones, is a musical journey about the life and work of Nigerian Singer Fela Kuti known simply as Fela. Set in Nigeria at a concert at Fela’s nightclub called the Shrine the musical highlights the life and times of the singer from his struggles as a young man to his travels to London and New York and his return to Nigeria.
Along the course of his travels, Fela is introduced to the Afro- Cuban salsa rhythms and R&B and soul music with its brassy horns and electric bass. While in New York, Fela is also introduced to the black power and consciousness movement of the 70’s.
Upon his return to Nigeria, Fela brings the music of the African Diaspora full circle by combining it with traditional music and dances of Nigeria. Taking up the mantle of social activism from his mother, Nigerian Civil rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who eventually dies as a result of injuries sustained when she was violently thrown out of a window when Nigerian soldiers savagely attacked Fela’s compound in Lagos, Fela begins his journey to become a music and human rights icon.
What intrigued me most as I watched the spectacular multi-media production that is interspersed with actual footage of Nigeria, is that prior to hearing about the production, I had never heard Fela- at least not knowingly; nor had I heard of the human rights struggles in Nigeria.
The value of Fela! goes beyond the artistic quality of the production but it provides an opportunity for audiences to be exposed to the struggles of the human rights movements of the people of Nigeria- while being entertained.
A week after seeing the production, I had a conversation with a Nigerian Cab driver. He told me he had seen Fela live at the Kilimanjaro, a club that used to be in Adams Morgan. He planned to see Fela! With his wife. I told him that as a result of the musical I started watching a documentary on Fela, on which the musical is heavily based . He encouraged me to get some of Fela’s music. I have not purchased any yet but my IPod will soon be getting a new playlist.
Fela! is in its final week of performances and ends this Sunday.
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