Renowned Nigerian Musical 'Fela and the Kalakuta Queens,' Is Heading to South Africa
The musical, which highlights the lives of Fela Kuti's 27 wives, will make its debut at the South African State Theatre next month.
Bolanle Austen-Peter's unique retelling of the story of Fela Kuti and the 27 women he married in a single ceremony in 1978, known as the Kalakuta Queens, is set to make its debut in South Africa next month.
The acclaimed musical, which first opened at Lago's Terra Kulture Arts and Culture Center in December 2017, will be showing at the South African State Theatre—known as the largest theatre complex in Africa. The play's 36 member cast will be led by Laitan "Heavywind" Adeniji and Patrick Diabuah who both portray Fela in the play. They'll be backed by a fifteen-piece band.
Aside from being an exploration of the life of the storied Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti and the Kalakuta Queens also focuses on the life and contributions of the women who played a major role in his musical rise and "gives a unique insight into the negotiation of gender and power relations at the Kalakuta Republic, while also showcasing their unique fashion, dance and African identity, and unmasking common misconceptions about them," according to a statement shared in Broadway World. The showing of the play in South Africa is in line with the State Theatre's Pan-African mission.
