Fela and the Kalakuta queen“bringing the Nigerian story to the World”
Cast: Patrick Diabua, Laitan Adeniji Fela, Joseph Umoibom, Inna Eriza Funmilayo, Uru Eke Alake, Osas Ighodaro-Ajibade, Bunmi Olunloyo, Titilayo Itiku, Dolapo Phillips etc
Executive Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Associate Producer: Joseph Umoibom
Script: Kesiena C Obue, Bolanle Austen- Peters, Cornelius Best Onyekaba, Kunle Dada
Choreographer: Paolo Siaiano, YeniKuti, Justine Ezirim
Lightening and Set Designer: Yemi Lights
Sound Designer: Emmanuel Otunjinri
Animation/Motion Graphic/Set Design: Ice Nweke
Social Media/ Communication Consultant: Ayo Rotimi
Stage Manager: Ikenna Jude Okpala
Production Coordinator: Sola Oyebade
Production Accountant: Fatai Omotunde, Temitope Sanya
Costume Designer: TIFE, KareemaMak,
Wardrobe Designer: Juliana Dede, Itunu Bamidele
Casting: 2hrs 30mins
If you are a lover of Theatre then you would totally love the epic Fela and the Kalakuta Queens by Terrakulture. I had heard a lot about the show from those who saw it last year, their accounts did not do justice to the play at all. I must confess that I totally enjoyed every bit of the show and I write about it to encourage people to also make out time to go see this wonderful show, which will be taking place every weekend in April at Terrakulture.
The show is on twice daily. It is organized and timely, it started a few minutes past 3 pm and ran until about 6 pm and we had a 10 minutes break in between 3 hours of amazing dance steps and musicals.
The Fela and the Kalakuta Queen was totally amazing. Directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters and produced by Joseph Umoibom. This show was well thought out and planned show from start to finish, there was no dull moment, it should have gone on forever. It felt like I could see it again and not get bored.
There was a perfect blend between the cast and the roles played, each one fitted in perfectly, at the point of almost looking real.
The Acor who played the role of “Fela” was amazing and on point, Patrick Diabua (The Actor) proved that he had done his due diligence; thoroughly studied Fela for a very long time, his steps, tone of voice, intonation, dance moves and attitude reminded everyone of Legend Fela.
The concubines and back up artists turned Fela’s wives were also amazing and awesome, they played each role well, making the play almost real, it felt like they were leaving the life again. There is one act, you need to look out for, “Malika”, the foreign lady, who came to visit the shrine, who eventually became part of Fela’s horde. She was ty amazing during the show and everyone wanted to see more of her on stage as she carried all the African features of a beautiful Nigerian Girl.
Before the play started we were given the rules of the show, in order to avoid distracting the actors with our cameras and phones, the lights were dimed and the show began. First, was an introduction of all the acts that would appear on stage (beautiful to usher in the show), at that point, I knew we were in for a very good show. They took us through all the heat songs of Fela from Democracy “Demonstration of Craze” till they ended up with the best of them all, “Water no get enemy” which is still a legendary song till date.
The show was awesome because there was no hinge or break between any song, there was a smooth sail between each song to the other, making it so difficult to know that it was a stage play, it looked so much like a movie, the quick transition and twist of the stage and the background screen made it so hard to remember that it was just a show. There was this perfect movement and blend between the acts, as they sang, danced and played their acting role at the same time. At some point, they had to jump, sing, cry, roll and still not miss their steps at the same time. The synchronization between all the dancers was unbelievably awesome.
Although I had heard that the shows were awesome like the last one in Eko hotel last year, with some foreign acts, this one was totally different as they all Nigerian dancers, producers, directors, makeup artists and players, it was a show by us strictly and for us.
What made it even better was the drama in between every song, making it a musical dance drama, which should actually be taken to every stage around the world to tell our African Legendary story. One major thing that blew my mind was that the play depicted the honest truth of what things were like then, and even till this age and time. It looked like nothing had changed the same old problems of those days were even worse now, the same leaders who ruled us then, are still the same rulers in power and the same mistakes we made then, we are still making now. A sad case of the rich getting richer, while the poor getting poorer, a heartbreaking fact of small thieves who steal at the market menial items going to jails for years and the great politician who stole with pens, being hailed on the streets with no punishment or accusations? Watching this play just opened my eyes to the hidden truths that have been buried for years and are still buried, one question lingered in my heart all through and as I left that play, who would actually save us from this black crisis we have found our self in, who will redeem Africa from this reoccurring problems, we have faced for decades now since independence? This will be a question for all of us to look into and work to fight for a brighter future for the next generation, or else there would be no legacy left of us to pass on to them.
I sinTo my verdict I would say a 10/10 to this beautiful show, I would be recommending this show a 100% to everyone, I believe that if we all went out to support our own locally produced plays and shows, we would be projecting the African culture to the world, increasing revenue to the theatre art industry, thereby bringing tourist and foreigners to Nigeria to see Theatre, this will increase revenue and our foreign reserves as external visitors will spend funds on hotel bills, flight, food and transportation, thereby causing a ripple positive impact on the Nigerian economy. We could also develop strategies on exporting our local plays and actors to the foreign world, thereby improving and increasing our external foreign reserves, through foreign currencies that would be earned in the process.
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