ALMOST 40 years after the historic invasion of Kalakuta Republic, a stage play, Fela: Son of Kuti, is set to relive the incidents that led to the assault, in line with the
National
Theatre’s objective of bringing back stage art.
The piece explores certain historical aspects of the then military regime and its attendant brutality. It also depicts the psychological inquest into the minds of few of Fela’s band boys and
backup
singers who escaped from Kalakuta Republic during the invasion in 1977.
Fela: Son of Kuti opens with a well-choreographed re-enactment of the events of the day before the attack on Kalakuta. As the play unfolds, some of the boys and ladies are in hiding, hungry and battered. Out of frustration, some of them begin to express their regrets in joining Fela’s band.
The play exposes some of the remote reasons behind the invasion of Kalakuta Republic, like Fela’s critical comments and anti-Festac stance, which necessitated his pre-Festac release of two songs that were extremely critical of the Nigerian government, Ojuelegba and Zombie.
The play will be staged at the National Theatre, Iganmu today and tomorrow, with a grand performance on September 28.
Billed to be performed by Troopers Art Production, a registered member of National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners and a member of Dance Guild of Nigeria, the drama will be produced by Jubson E- Solution, an Information Technology firm based in Nigeria.
Fela: Son of Kuti is written by Cornel Best Onyekaba, a theatre scholar, arts teacher and journalist. He currently lectures at the Theatre Arts unit of the Department of Creative Art, University of Lagos.
The play, which is directed by Toyin Oshinaike, a theatre Director, a poet and an actor, will be choreographed by theatre art practitioner and dancer, Tobi Odunsi
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