Fela! On Broadway

It is quite disturbing to note that no Nigerian was allotted a relevant role on the project that is supposed to celebrate the life of our own FELA!

The curtain was drawn on Fela!, the widely acclaimed Broadway musical inspired by the life, music and activism of Afrobeat maestro Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Last night’s finale played to a packed house of ecstatic spectators.
It was a rousing, throbbing and highly emotional end to the run of one of the most gripping musicals ever produced on Broadway. Among those who saw the closing show was Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, who is also a cousin of Fela Kuti. Mr. Soyinka attended the event with numerous members of his family. Also in attendance was acclaimed producer and filmmaker Spike Lee.
The high-energy show did not disappoint last night as Kevin Mambo, a Zimbabwean actor, played the lead role as "Fela."
Mr. Mambo turned on a mesmerizing performance for the audience with his quick, witty and sometimes bracing performance, even though it was clear that perhaps a bruising rehearsal had broken his voice. He not only held the crowd spellbound, he broke down and wept profusely towards the end of the show.
Top American singer and actress Patricia Louise Holte, popularly known as Patti Labelle, had a commanding presence as she movingly played Funmilayo, Fela’s mother.
The audience was very much a part of the closing show. They were invited to a dance routine that involved vigorous butt shaking to a "number’s" dance as Mr. Mambo called out the numbers.