FELA - a theatrical masterpiece

FELA
Welcome na de Shrine!

Reviewed by: Sandi "D"
November 2009

Afro-beat King, Fela Kuti (Sahr Ngaujah), Nigerian musician and political activist is a turbulence of rebellion, albeit exaggerated (?) but nonetheless flamboyant and riveting in his continuing role as he makes the trek from Off-Broadway to Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre. The primal drum beat is the heart beat of all life on earth and choreographer/director Bill T. Jones (of Spring Awakening fame) means to infuse its elements in this multi-dimensional, can’t stay in your seat, theatrical production. From the opening “Everybody say Ya Ya” the audience is engaged visually and musically by the undulating cast bedecked in bright, sexy Afro costuming, and the scenic designs (Marina Draghici)and the larger-than-life Fela Kuti’s musical artistry.

Studying music and composition in England, he chose the trumpet as his instrument of choice, formed his own band in London, was overwhelmingly influenced by James Brown leading him on his path to find his own musical voice, in the tradition of Yoruba (High life and jazz), giving birth to Fela’s Afro-beat. He traveled to L.A. to tour and record, became aware of and influenced by Malcolm X and other proponents of Black Nationalism, returning to Nigeria where he founded his own recording studio and nightclub, The Shrine.

Kuti’s songs are filled with political rage and social injustice. For most of us who are inexperienced in this genre, it would be difficult to understand the complexity of the culture that gave rise to the horrors portrayed in Nigeria 1977 when the government set fire to The Shrine, arresting many and inflicting fatal injuries. Lord knows the horrors of war continue to this very day in too many parts of the world providing essential fodder to theater pieces such as this, as a constant reminder of man’s atrocities to man.

From basic instinct musical number “Underground Spiritual Game (The Clock) where the cast and audience share in the undulating body movements necessary to touch the various numbers on the clock, to “Black President” (an imagined movie of Fela’s life) and tearful and bloody “The Storming of Kalakuta” to the spiritual “Zombie” haunting (glorious costuming!), one feels swept away into a nightmare of realities. The use of projections of actual scenes of the times further enhances the enlightenment.

Personally, Kuti married 27 women at one time and after the uprising and exile, returned to form his own political party, running for president in two elections; small tidbits of the historical information constantly emerging which can sometimes make for confusion.
Be that as it may, this is a production to be seen and savored not only for its high level of theatrical creativity and production values, but for the important educational history.

Lillias White is notable as Kuti’s activist mother, Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti who is eventually thrown from a two-story window during the Government tear gas attack of The Shrine. Favorite Fela female love interest is played by Sandra Isadore (Saycon Sengbloh).

Fela is presented by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith. The book is by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones who also conceived the project together with Stephen Hendel. Antibalas, and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of Aaron Johnson, perform Kuti’s rousing music. Lighting design, Rob Wierzel; Sound design, Rob Kaplowitz; Projection design, Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean.