Award-Winning “FELA!” The Musical Arrives in Los Angeles

"Fela!" the 2010 Best Musical Tony Award-nominated musical, opened December 14, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. The musical, filled with the exuberant music of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will continue through January 22, 2012.

“Fela!,” which is based on the life of the charismatic Kuti and is highlighted by many of Kuti’s most captivating songs, has a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, additional lyrics by Jim Lewis, additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean, and was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel. “Fela!” features the visionary direction and choreography of two-time Tony Award-winner Jones (“Fela!” and “Spring Awakening”), who was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in December 2010.

A triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, “Fela!” is the true story of Kuti, who created a new type of music, Afrobeat, and mixed these pounding eclectic rhythms (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies) with incendiary lyrics that openly attacked the corrupt and oppressive military dictatorships that rule Nigeria and much of Africa. His songs of rebellion were an inspiration to millions.

The cast features Sahr Ngaujah and Adesola Osakalumi alternating as the title role of Fela, Melanie Marshall as Funmilayo, Paulette Ivory as Sandra, Rasaan-Elijah “Talu” Green as Djembe-‘Mustafa,’ Ismael Kouyaté as Ismael and Gelan Lambert as J.K./Tap Dancer/Egungun.

In addition, the ensemble includes Sherinne Kayra Anderson, Jonathan Andre, Cindy Belliot, Nandi Bhebhe, Catia Mota Da Cruz, Nicole Chantal De Weever, Jacqui Dubois, Poundo Gomis, Wanjiru Kamuyu, Oneika Phillips, Thierry Picaut, Jermaine Rowe, Daniel Soto, Adé Chiké Torbert, Jill Marie Vallery, Iris Wilson and Aimee Graham Wodobode.

The kinetic energy pulsing from the music and dancing of “Fela!” prompted Ben Brantley of The New York Times to say “There should be dancing in the streets” when it opened on Broadway in 2009.

This “singular, sensational show . . .” (Brantley) is an “. . .electroshock for the soul,” said Peter Marks of The Washington Post. Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times said “Fela!” is “. . .the most exuberant musical I’ve seen this fall . . . the fusion of his [Fela’s] sound is rapturously celebrated with a pinwheel parade of pelvises . . .Under [Bill T.] Jones’ inclusive vision the production becomes a party, in which the power of the people is unleashed with a contagious jiggle.”

“Fela!” received a total of 11 Tony Award nominations in 2010.

Art Basilica of Contemporary African Art

For Nairobi bound travelers there are two very special visits to plan for – one is the centurion-plus hotel with the most impressive credentials – the Norfolk Hotel, from which the U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt started his magnificent safari that started the safari obsession for American travelers. The other is the Gallery Watatu, the premier icon of contemporary African art.

The Watatu Gallery has a history traced back to 1968, and has gone through as many transformations and rebirths as Kenya and the world economy. The ups and downs do have a very direct effect of top art galleries, not just in Africa, but Europe, the U.S. – worldwide. In short Gallery Watatu has gone through all of the cycles, and now is returning to its glory days when the California and Santa Barbara art dealer Ruth Schaffner came and took up the challenge of making Watatu what it became – an international force for contemporary African artists.

Ruth S. Schaffner said it best. In 1988 she wrote: Ever since making films in West Africa in the late 1940s, I’ve been fascinated by African art. Yet I’ve found that only the antique masks and carvings which first influenced Picasso, Braque and others in the early part of the century have been making an impact on the Western art world. In the last 20 years their recognition and value have risen to tremendous heights, which is positive. But, I wonder, what of the present day African art?

Go to the capital cities and even remote villages of modern Africa and you can find genuine artists working against the odds. Until recently the uninformed West believed the art scene in Africa consisted solely of cunning fakes and ‘airport’ art, and that the exceptions weren’t worthy of consideration. Now there is a growing awareness, but there is still work to be done. This was the challenge which inspired me to address Gallery Watatu in 1985 – to bring to light a new, developing art movement totally uninfluenced by Western art.”

This spirit of serious art connoisseur and director continues to guide this unique part of Nairobi. In short, your travel and visit plans have to include at least a half day at the Gallery to see what Africa art is and if you should – and you should – invest in serious contemporary fine arts of Africa. That means not just buying their postcards and great posters that make incredible souvenirs and mementos of your trip, but pieces that would put you into the category of a patron of the Africa contemporary art.

Galley Watatu is located on the 1st Floor of the Lonrho House on Kaunda Street, in the central business district of Nairobi. The Gallery local Nairobi telephone number is (+254) 722-721-847. Website: http://gallerywatatu.com/#2