Week in Culture

There is a reason that The Lion King has been such a phenomenal stage hit—African rhythms are infectious. But a Disney production does not an authentic African musical make, and on Monday, a new show opens that will bring theatergoers an even sharper glimpse at the sounds and beats of the continent. Fela!, directed and choreographed by legendary performer Bill T. Jones, tells the story of controversial Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, who used Afrobeat music (a fusion of jazz, funk, and African drums) to stage revolutions, both political and artistic. James Brown considered Kuti to be the true godfather of funk, and though Fela passed away of AIDS in 1997 at age 58, he packed a lot into his life—his 1977 hit record, "Zombie," was a sharp critique of the Nigerian government, and though it was a popular smash, it led to Kuti (and his family) being exiled. He married 27 women in a commune and later disavowed marriage altogether. He shared a stage with Bono, was arrested several more times, and finally for “murder” during the rise of the Nigerian dictatorship in the early ‘90s. What Kuti left behind was a tremendous musical legacy, and performer Sahr Ngaujah does an excellent job of bringing his raw passion to the stage in the musical. Also: Jay Z and Will Smith are the production’s major backers—they realize that Fela! is an important moment for African-Americans in an Obama world.