What's Hot?
Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over...
Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts...
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a...
Morocco: National Finery Museum Reopens to Critical Aclaim
Five years after, Lagos Inaugurates Randle Centre for...
The future of global music is African
CAA Signs ‘Heroes’ Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis
Philly filmmaker Walé Oyéjidé captures the beauty of...
Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ Becomes Most Watched Nigerian Music...
The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
Music, Movies & More

We can’t stop telling Fela’s story – Femi Kuti, Austin-Peters, others

by Adelagun EniObanke January 6, 2020
by Adelagun EniObanke January 6, 2020

The multi-dimensional story of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the late Afrobeat icon, will continue to dominate musical, literary and theatrical discourses in the new decade and for a long time to come, Lagosians were told last night.

Key members of the Anikulapo-Kuti clan joined thespians and theatre enthusiasts to salute the greatness of the legendary Afrobeat creator and to demand that more about his enigmatic life and creative offerings be told and marketed in cultural forms.

This happened last night at the grand finale of Fela’s Republic and the Kalakuta Queens, the sold-out musical by Bolanle Austen-Peters.

Sunday night’s performance at the Terra Kulture Arena brought to a close a fantastic yuletide run of the acclaimed stage play. The spectacular performance drew eulogies from Fela’s children and grandson, two of his surviving dancer-wives and several Fela adherents.

One after the other, they spoke glowingly on stage at the end of the performance about the great musician who dominated the afromusuc scene for decades and has continued to be relevant more than 22 years after his death.

For Femi Kuti, who is Fela’s eldest son at 57, the late Afrobeat icon will continue to inspire great creative works and adoration.

“What we have seen today represents a key aspect of my father’s life, especially his battle with the authorities. As Fela’s children we suffered greatly due to his issues with government. We were denied several things. It took a great deal for me to be out of his shadows but we are grateful that in the end, everyone has a success story to tell. So we must continue to tell Fela’s story. We can’t exhaust his story and there is so much to share with the younger generation.”

An obviously emotional Femi also proudly introduced his son, Made, on stage. “He is 24 and studied music at the Trinity College in London, the same institution where Fela studied Music. His debut album will soon be out,” he announced to the audience, which responded with a loud applause.

Smart and eloquent, Made Kuti said he was only two-years-old when his grandfather died and because he did not personally witness the troubles that Fela had with the state authorities, he relies only on the stories of Fela being told.

“When I see videos like the carnage of his house being burnt and how people were maltreated, I do not feel sad. What I feel is anger. I’m angry because although I did not witness the injustice against Fela, 20 years down the line, i see similar injustices being perpetrated daily. It doesn’t seem like much has changed and I thank Terra Kulture for bringing to life this type of story,” he said.

Yeni Kuti, Fela’s eldest daughter who will be 59 in April also said Fela’s story would continue to be the soothing balm for many peoples’ troubled souls. “But it is sad that many years after, justice is yet to be served. This is why we must continue to tell the Fela story as a reminder on what transpired and what we have left uncorrected.”

His half brother, Kunle, 48, who manages the Kalakuta Museum in Ikeja, spoke in a similar vein, saying Fela’s story is the people’s story that must continue to be told.

Like Yeni and Femi, be also acknowledged and thanked the lead actor, Laitan Adeniji (Heavywind) who played Fela so wonderfully well, for a job well done.

Laide, one of Fela’s surviving dancers, who had to be assisted unto the stage limping, said her condition was as a result of the brutality she suffered in the hands of the military police when Fela’s Kalakuta Republic was burnt down in 1977, a trsumatic occasion that led to his mother being thrown down from a three-storey building and many, including Fela, brutalized and arrested.

For Bolanle Austen-Peters, who directed and produced the musical, it was a personal fulfilment to have had the honour of telling an important aspect of Fela’s life in an entertaining way.

Looking stunning in a black Fela Kuti-styled outfit, which was designed by Ituen Bassey, Auten-Peters said “We are proud to be telling an important story of an important music icon; we are proud to have had a cordial working relationship with Fela’s family and we are proud with the response from our sponsors and audiences. This is encouraging and this is one good reason to continue on this path of telling our own stories to the world.”

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Adelagun EniObanke

previous post
2020 Golden Globe Awards: Full List of Winners
next post
Filmmaker, Nodash, to represent Nigeria at Pan African Film Festival

You may also like

The future of global music is African

January 30, 2023

‘Dark October’: Parents Of Slain Uniport Students Seek...

January 29, 2023

With ‘Lift Me Up’ Wakanda Soundtrack, Tems Earns...

January 29, 2023

95th Oscars: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads...

January 24, 2023

Aluu Four: Linda Ikeji’s ‘Dark October’ Coming To...

January 24, 2023

How Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ With Selena Gomez Conquered...

January 24, 2023

Ijongbon! As Kunle Afolayan Goes On Set Again

January 20, 2023

Nigerian Artistes Shine As Burna Boy, Davido, Asake,...

January 19, 2023

Akon, Asake, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Other Superstars In...

January 14, 2023

Nigerian Cinemas Grossed Almost N7billion in 2022

January 12, 2023

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over Leaked Sex Tape
  • Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts show 15th anniversary
  • International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
  • Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a Reminder of the Country’s Growing Arts Scene
  • Morocco: National Finery Museum Reopens to Critical Aclaim

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over Leaked Sex Tape

    February 3, 2023
  • Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts show 15th anniversary

    February 3, 2023
  • International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN

    February 3, 2023

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2019 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Zero-One

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality