The Arts of Africa

FELA Live – Power Show

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s afrobeat occupies a pivotal position in Nigeria’s musical continuum and socio-political discourse. Through Fela, a new medium of social and political criticism was unearthed for the critical mass of Nigerians in the 1970s. Although Nigeria was experiencing what would turn out to be a brief respite of oil-boom prosperity after the bitter Biafran civil war, Fela used his music to remind the society to be critical of and cautious about the military dictatorship and the impact of neocolonialism on the psyche of the Nigerian people.

Enter the extravagant, decadent, rebellious world of a legendary musician.

A provocative hybrid of dance and Broadway musical, FELA! features the Afrobeat music of Fela Anikulapo–Kuti, a book by Jim Lewis and the direction and choreography of Tony® Award winner Bill T. Jones.

His Passion Ignited a Generation.
His Music Fueled a Revolution.
His Legacy Inspires the World.

FELA! uses stirring Afrobeat music (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies), to tell the story of Kuti’s controversial life as artist, political activist and revolutionary musician. Featuring many of Fela Kuti’s most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones’s visionary staging, FELA! is the most original new musical on Broadway.