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Fela! Theatre review
23/12/2010
Fela! National Theatre, London
Book by Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones
Music & Lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
Cast includes: Sahr Ngaujah, Melanie Marshall, Catia Mota Da Cruz and Paulette Ivory
The music of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti or simply Fela, not only affected his generation but every generation that followed after. Born in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938 the singer, musician and pioneer of Afrobeat used his unique style of music as a voice for human rights; speaking out against dictatorships and in particular the military governments of Nigeria in the 70s and 80s.
Fela! follows his journey from a hopeful twenty-something to an African revolutionary and includes his original trip to London to study music, his time in America where he was heavily influenced by the Black Power movement and his subsequent return to Nigeria, setting up of The Kalakuta Republic and his nightclub The Shrine.
From the moment you walk into the National’s Olivier Theatre you are transported into a modern-day Shrine complete with African art adorning ever conservable surface, a live band and dancers who appear to have bodies made out of plasticine. The format for the musical, produced by Jay-Z and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, is Fela’s last concert before leaving Nigeria for good. Sahr Ngaujah, who plays Fela with such authenticity and brilliance you wonder if he is somehow channelling the dead musician, frequently refers to the audience as if we were in The Shrine.
Each aspect of Fela’s life is told through his songs including Trouble Sleep to depict his continual battle between staying to fight corruption in Nigeria and leaving for an easier life, Upside Down, which highlights the altering affect Sandra Izsadore had on his views and the world famous Zombie; a satire against the Nigerian military. Accompanying each of the songs is an intricately choreographed dance routine performed by a company of dancers who are nothing short of spectacular and while the company on a whole were truly fantastic, Catia Mota Da Cruz deserves a special mention as she elegantly contorted her body into positions I didn’t think were humanly possible.
Fela! was created to honour and celebrate the legendary musician and as such his story is told from a purely positive perspective. None of his critics are addressed and the claim that he was in fact a misogynist – Fela’s marriage to 27 women is skimmed over with nothing more than a comical two and a half minute routine – is never even mentioned.
It is without question that Fela! is an enjoyable, entertaining and at times laugh out loud production that will undoubtedly create new fans of Fela’s music, but it is best to be viewed as an introduction, rather than an exhaustive depiction of the extraordinary African musician.
Playing in rep until the 23rd January 2011 at the National Theatre. To book tickets and for more information please visit nationaltheatre.org.uk
On 13 January 2011 you can also catch a live broadcast at UK cinemas nationwide and select international cinemas. For participating venues check www.ntlive.com
Karla Williams
Also on Mondomix –
Fela Anikulapo Kuti artist profile
Black Man’s Cry – The Inspiration of Fela Kuti review
Fela: This Bitch Of A Life biography review
23/12/2010
FELA! THEATRE MUSIC REVIEW
ALL NEWS
// ALSO
- Fela! on stage and on screen
- African Soul Rebels Special: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 on UK tour 13-21 April 2011
- Femi Kuti's interview at Musiques Métisses festival 1999
- Seun Kuti Interview - October 2007
- Seun Kuti
- Dhol Foundation Live DJ set at RichMix + competition!
- Tony Allen, Art’s Own Kind: Afrobeat & The Art Of Lemi Ghariokwu
- Tony Allen, Afrobeat ace
- DJ Floro, Chart
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