What happens? An 8-track remix compiled from “… dozens of hand-picked samples from the Nigerian instrumentalist and political figure Fela Kuti, and 8 carefully-chosen acapellas from the Native Tongue rap trio De La Soul” called Fela Soul. The remix is the work of America Gazaway for Gummy Soul. Above is the promo video. Here’s a link […]
Fela In The Low Countries
January 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The “Fela! The Musical” craze hasn’t reached the Low Countries (yet), but that doesn’t stop Dutch ZAM Magazine from including in its latest issue some old, but previously unpublished pictures, of Fela in Paris shot by Anton Corbijn.
When Fela Kuti came to New York City
November 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The Fela revival–lawsuits and all–in New York City rolls on. This time it’s a new documentary about a mid-1980s visit Kuti–then in his prime–made to New York City. ”Fela–NYC: Fresh from Africa” is a 97-minute film directed by Jaheed Ashley “… filled with rare footage of Fela that remained unseen for two decades.” I just got […]
Fela Can’t Dance
September 17, 2010 By 3 Comments
Music Break: Fela Kuti’s “Water No Get Enemy”
June 28, 2010 By 2 Comments
Fela Rolls On
May 5, 2010 By 2 Comments
Hot off the heels of Fela! The Musical’s phenomenal 11 Tony Award nominations comes the news (via Deadline New York) that Chiwetel Ejiofor is “formally attached” to play the lead in the Fela biopic slated for release in 2011. The film is being produced by Focus Features and will be directed by Steve McQueen, the […]
Fela! wins on Broadway
May 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
Bill T Jones’ “Fela!,” the musical interpretation of the life of the Afrobeat king, is up for 11 Tony Awards–the most of any show this year–including Best Musical. I haven’t seen any of the other shows up for contention, but I can attest to the brilliance of the show. From Jones’ direction, to the acting […]
Abraham Lincoln and Fela Kuti
February 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Some critics went after Bill T Jones for his musical portrayal of the king of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, on Broadway. Here, in the video above, Mr Jones responds–indirectly–to criticisms of “Fela!,” during a discussion with Bill Moyers about the life of the American President, Abraham Lincoln. Jones created a dance-theater work celebrating the bicentennial of […]
Seun Kuti goes to see ‘Fela!’ on Broadway
February 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Representing Fela
February 6, 2010 By 1 Comment
Last week The New York Times published an odd piece of writing by one its theater “critics”, Charles Isherwood about the Broadway show “Fela!” about the life of the Afrobeat king. Isherwood, in a piece that was begging for reaction, accused the show of “tilting” towards minstrelsy (basically Bill T Jones promotes blackface) aimed at […]
