Finding Fela

Director: Alex Gibney

Institute History

Description

No individual better embodies African music of the 1970s and ’80s—and its pivotal role in postcolonial political activism—than Fela Kuti. After quickly taking his native Nigeria by storm, the pioneering musician’s confrontational Afrobeat sound soon spread throughout the continent and beyond, even as it made determined enemies of the repressive Nigerian military regime. As a result of continued persecution, increasingly unorthodox behavior, and, eventually, complications due to HIV, Kuti’s final years saw his musical output and influence wane.

Within the past decade, a resurgence of interest in his work has posthumously repopularized Kuti, culminating in the massively successful Broadway show FELA!, written by Jim Lewis and directed by Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones. Academy Award–winning director Alex Gibney interweaves the show’s skillful staging with a treasure trove of period interviews and hypnotic performances to recapture the essence of the man, his music, and his enduring cultural and political relevance.

In conjunction with the screening of this film, Sundance London is proud to
feature a live music performance from one of the members of Fela Kuti’s
band Egypt 80 - Dele Sosimo and his Afrobeat Orchestra. Sunday 27 April from
8.00pm at the Festival Hub at Brooklyn Bowl.

— Basil Tsiokos

Screening Details

Credits

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