And The Beat Goes On....

The sounds of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat have been in the mix of my musical life for quite a bit. His songs would play on the public stations my father was always listening to. Frank Brown, editor-in-chief of YSB, would always have him on blast during my first year there as an intern. His music would be slipped into blended and mixes by DJs in my college years and would serve as soundtrack for so many of the “kick knowledge” discussions that we all indulged in. But I can be honest in saying that I never knew his full story, his full history, even as his best of has become a permanent fixture on my Ipod.

So it was a true gift when I was taken to check out Fela!, a two-hour tribute to the life and music of Fela Kuti produced by 37 Arts. With the Divine blessing of second row center seats (my second seating come-up in a month’s time) I was right there in front of actor Sahr Ngaujah’s dead-on portrayal of the man in question. Produced by Bill T. Jones, the play is a work of excellence in stage design, choreography, performance and perhaps most importantly for the writer, structure. I don’t get to the theater as much as I’d like. And this was one of those experiences that made me feel even more guilty about not being able to do so. But for Fela fans and for those who just want to learn, it’s a production you can’t afford to miss. And shout-out to my neighbor Lauren De Veaux, who kills it as part of the ensemble!

For more info logon to felaoffbroadway.com.