15th April, 2011
FELA!, the hit Broadway musical about the life and music of Nigerian performer and political activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, made a historic debut in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, last night.
The over 80 cast and crew of the Tony awards winning Broadway musical shook the city of Lagos and thrilled thousands of Fela and Afrobeat music lovers who stormed the Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, venue of the special concert in honour of the Afrobeat legend.
It was an appetiser for music lovers in readiness for the real Broadway show scheduled for next week. The landmark main show will open at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites’ New Expo Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on 20 through 25 April, making it the first Broadway show to be performed in sub-Saharan Africa.
The cast will be backed by the internationally-renowned Antibalas as well as other members of the New York City Afrobeat community.
This concert version of the show by the original cast of Fela at the Afrikan Shrine, was at the insistence of the cast who want to pay homage to the subject of the award-winning musical, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and to his family at Fela’s spiritual home, the New Africa Shrine.
And they made the night a memorable one Sahr Ngaujah, the lead actor reprised his Tony award-winning classic portrayal of Fela.
He eagerly mounted the Shrine stage and showed Fela’ fans the stuff he is made of that gave him the Tony awards ahead of others, in a night that had a medley of races: Nigerians and scores of Caucasians mixed and soaked in the frills of the music and message of Fela as performed by the cast.
Sahr, as the lead cast in the Fela! on the Broadway cast is popularly called, received a standing ovation from those that attended the show such as the former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, the wife of a popular Nigeria music star, Charly Boy, Lady Diane, top music stars, Ara, Baba Dee, Stella Monye, the Kuti family and others.
Speaking after the show, a highly elated Femi Anikulapo-Kuti who entertained the crowd with his sax said: “Since you have come to the Shrine to pay homage to the Spirit of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, may you be blessed in all your endeavours and on behalf of the Kuti family everbody present and the entire Nigerian journalists, thank you.â€
The 34-year-old Sahr Ngaujah told P.M.NEWS that he is happy to perform live at the New Afrika Shrine.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka applauded the message of the musical. He said having watched the Broadway in its opening abroad, he cannot, but recommend the show for all to see.
—Ayodele Lawal/Funsho Arogundade