His story inspired a nation. His music inspires the world. FELA! tells the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation.
Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti's captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones.
EVERYBODY SAY YEAH YEAH!
'Fela!,' the 2010 Best Musical Tony Award-nominated musical, opened on December 14th, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. The musical, filled with the exuberant music of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will continue through January 22, 2012. Go inside opening night in the video below!
'Original: No Artificiality' intones in song Sahr Ngaujah as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and human rights activist (1938-1997). Originality in everything was indeed what Kuti represented. He travelled the world and not only brought innovations to music with his Afrobeat, but also through exposure to American Black Powerattempted to fight European imperialism and 'change the world'. He unsuccessfully ran for President of Nigeria. In 1977 his mother Funmilayo (Melanie Marshall) was violently assassinated and his wives brutally attacked and raped by the Nigerian military. Despite rejection and humiliation, he never gave up fighting until his death in 1997.
'Fela!,' the 2010 Best Musical Tony Award-nominated musical, opened last night, December 14th, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. The musical, filled with the exuberant music of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will continue through January 22, 2012. Check out photos from opening night below!
"Fela!," the 2010 Best Musical Tony Award®-nominated musical, opened December 14th, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre.
The WARRIOR EP is now available online! DJ Serge Negri presents Saycon 'Warrior' is an EP that features the original song 'Warrior' and a special bonus track, Sorrow, Tears, & Blood for all those Afro-beat lovers and additional soulful house instrumentals to jam to! Saycon Sengbloh was featured as the powerful Sandra Iszadore in the Tony award winning musical Fela! about the life of afro-beat superstar Fela Kuti. She is featured on the Grammy nominated Fela! Broadway soundtrack. Warrior is a collaboration with house D.J. Serge Negri following his release the 'Cigarette EP' featuring vocalist Tasha Mabry, Serge geared up for this Warrior EP release with Saycon. Special thanks to BAMBOOSOUNDS for this special release just in time for the Holiday Season! Available on Amazon, Bamboosounds.net, Itunes, Afrodesiamp3.com and other online retailers.
Tony nominated for his performance in FELA! Sahr Ngaujah stars in the touring production, which will play at the Canon Theatre October 25 to November 6.
I remember how shocked and surprised I was when the Shakespeare Theatre announced it would be presenting the Tony-nominated musical Fela! I was fortunate to see this unique and unforgettable evening of theater on Broadway.
With 11 Tony ® Award nominations including Best Musical and Best Director of a Musical & Best Choreography for Bill T. Jones, the upcoming US tour of FELA! is set to be led by Sahr Ngaujah, who originated the role on Broadway. The tour will play the following US cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tempe, and Washington.
FELA!, the landmark Broadway musical, which won three Tony Awards (Broadway's highest honor) including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), is coming to Lagos from April 20th to 25th.
FELA!, the landmark Broadway musical, which won three Tony Awards (Broadway's highest honor) including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), is coming to Lagos from April 20th to 25th.
Boston Afrofunk band The Macrotones will take the stage at Brooklyn's Spike Hill on Saturday, February 26th at 9:00 PM to host an Afrofunk dance party like the borough has never seen. While rooted in groove-fertile Afrobeat, the 10-strong Macrotones expand their sound with commanding horns and a drilling percussion section. Respectful of the Fela Kuti legacy, the Boston collective erupted out of a traditional Afrobeat ensemble in 2007, knowing there were new, heavier directions to push toward. With a low and chunky bari-tenor-trombone horn section up front, a slinky tectonic deep end behind, and grinding organ and edgy guitar popping off all around, the band's sonic layering serves as a musical tactician's manual. The Macrotones share the bill with Buru Style, The Flowdown (CD Release Show), MK Groove Orchestra and The Essex throughout the night. Admission is $6
Producers Ruth and Stephen Hendel (Fela!, American Idiot, The Exonerated) present the rock performance piece ALEX DAVIS: MAN OF THE YEAR at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Saturday, February 19 at 8:00pm and Sunday, February 20 at 2:00pm. Both performances benefit the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Producers Ruth and Stephen Hendel (Fela!, American Idiot, The Exonerated) present the rock performance piece ALEX DAVIS: MAN OF THE YEAR at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Saturday, February 19 at 8:00pm and Sunday, February 20 at 2:00pm. Both performances benefit the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Boston Afrofunk band The Macrotones will take the stage at Brooklyn's Spike Hill on Saturday, February 26th at 9:00 PM to host an Afrofunk dance party like the borough has never seen. While rooted in groove-fertile Afrobeat, the 10-strong Macrotones expand their sound with commanding horns and a drilling percussion section. Respectful of the Fela Kuti legacy, the Boston collective erupted out of a traditional Afrobeat ensemble in 2007, knowing there were new, heavier directions to push toward. With a low and chunky bari-tenor-trombone horn section up front, a slinky tectonic deep end behind, and grinding organ and edgy guitar popping off all around, the band's sonic layering serves as a musical tactician's manual. The Macrotones share the bill with Buru Style, The Flowdown (CD Release Show), MK Groove Orchestra and The Essex throughout the night. Admission is $6
Producers Ruth and Stephen Hendel (Fela!, American Idiot, The Exonerated) present the rock performance piece ALEX DAVIS: MAN OF THE YEAR at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Saturday, February 19 at 8:00pm and Sunday, February 20 at 2:00pm. Both performances benefit the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Producers Ruth and Stephen Hendel (Fela!, American Idiot, The Exonerated) present the rock performance piece ALEX DAVIS: MAN OF THE YEAR at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Saturday, February 19 at 8:00pm and Sunday, February 20 at 2:00pm. Both performances benefit the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Ulster Bank Dublin Festival is delighted to continue to present National Theatre Live, an initiative presented by in association with the Irish Film Institute, to broadcast live performances of National Theatre plays onto cinema screens around the world.
Currently playing on Broadway, this Tony winning musical will be broadcast from the National Theatre of Great Britain at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury on Thursday, January 13 at 7:00 pm. Tickets, $17, are available through the Town Hall Theater Box Office by calling 802-382-9222, online at www.townhalltheater.org, or in person Monday - Saturday, noon - 5:00 pm.
His music inspired a nation. Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, Fela Kuti defied a corrupt military regime in Nigeria and devoted his life and music to the struggle for human dignity. His message came across in his inspired, soulful Afrobeat music, which fuels the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that tells his story.
Ulster Bank Dublin Festival is delighted to continue to present National Theatre Live, an initiative presented by in association with the Irish Film Institute, to broadcast live performances of National Theatre plays onto cinema screens around the world.
Fela! may soon be headed to Nigeria, according to the New York Times. The move was originally reported in June, when it was announced that FELA! has been asked by officials at the Nigerian Ministry of Culture to perform in Nigeria in October.
On January 2, Fela!, the multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about the music and life of the revolutionary musician and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, ended it's run at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. The critically acclaimed musical began performances on Broadway on October 19 of 2009 and opened to rave reviews on November 23, 2009. Check out photos from the final performance below!
Currently playing on Broadway, this Tony winning musical will be broadcast from the National Theatre of Great Britain at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury on Thursday, January 13 at 7:00 pm. Tickets, $17, are available through the Town Hall Theater Box Office by calling 802-382-9222, online at www.townhalltheater.org, or in person Monday - Saturday, noon - 5:00 pm.
Currently playing on Broadway, this Tony winning musical will be broadcast from the National Theatre of Great Britain at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury on Thursday, January 13 at 7:00 pm. Tickets, $17, are available through the Town Hall Theater Box Office by calling 802-382-9222, online at www.townhalltheater.org, or in person Monday - Saturday, noon - 5:00 pm.
His music inspired a nation. Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, Fela Kuti defied a corrupt military regime in Nigeria and devoted his life and music to the struggle for human dignity. His message came across in his inspired, soulful Afrobeat music, which fuels the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that tells his story.
2008 | Off-Broadway |
World Premiere Off-Broadway |
2009 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2010 | West End |
Royal National Theatre Production West End |
2011 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
2012 | Broadway |
Broadway Return Engagement Broadway |
Videos