fela anikulapo kuti, king sunny ade, and many many more nigerian and other african artists from back in the sixties, seventies etc used to give concerts in the states but their audiences where always white , mainly cos they where prepared to pay the full asking prices at the shows and paid for the full price albums coming out at the time. just google those names to see what i mean, king sunny ade, the king of "juju" music is still going STRONG , fela's children continue to hold the torch .
Peeple you gotta understand that this is a big ( in the entertainment industry/arts ) but short 4 minute and 20 something second spot they have to let people know who fela was, what he stood for, what the shrine was like, you know, everything but in under 5 minutes and the right things to get people there who go to broadway shows but don't necessarily want to go to see " African ballets " to give them a taste and get people in to really see and hear the story.
@soundquality "ballet" is not in any african culture , that is a very european concept. we dont do "ballet " especially in the west african concept.. its UNKNOWN ..
@SuperQueenofAfrica Yea thanks Queen. I understand that, that is why I put it in quotation marks because that is how it is marketed or understood here when presented in a big theatre and not just an arts or cultural festival.
@soundquality am not hating on the musical, its an INTERPRETATION not a duplication of who fela was.... the lead has done his homework and does a great job with it.. and to be honest what is good about it is that it exposes american blacks to a world they have no idea about because when fela used to travel to the us to do shows back in the day his audience was overwhelmingly white, in them he had a core audience for years . they went to the shows and paid for the albums. no bootlegging allowed.
@bendamify its better than nothing remember they are coming from a completely different space , they can only interpret and adapt fela's story to be able to absorb what they can of it..
I hate to concur with those who find this video less than, but this is truly a wack job! I'm amazed how successful this musical has been with such portrayal. Broadway or not, this is Africa poorly portrayed once again by the Wild West under the auspices of ... This is what happens when you add sugar to egusi soup to entice the sweet tooth.
How could anyone fully capture the real Fela, to complain that this man interpretations is not accurate shows arroganece and elitism, and child like expectations. At least we are getting a glimpse of Fela as opposed to nothing at all. Some people are born with a negative tongue.
Love the show, but i come from an Nigerian family. so to me personally it would have been more authentic to have the cast majority nigerian or at least fela. great job either way though.
@LDNballer forget that lol, its not going to happen , besides remember this is an interpretation only for us we know the difference but for them this is the nearest they will ever get to who we actually are.
I so wanted to like this clip but this man acting as Fela does not for me, embody the spirit of Fela. Fela commanded the stage with even small intricate movements. Glaring at the camera and shouting does not a Fela make. Trust the Americans to mess things up. Royally...
@mzBerry316 Sure. Abami Eda is a true Legend. One of the only names that linger for good,that's why those fools will never go down in folklore like this legend of a man who was the voice of the ordinary,a true champion of anti-oppression, discrimination,and tyranny. FELA LIVES!!!
Guys pls calm down,D broadway in America is just like D apollo or other major theatre in uk, it is where the life, legacy & works of great artist & musicians are acted or shown to D world.nigerian should be proud that 'Fela' is being acted just like shakespare, micheal jackson, elvis presley, james brown. D list is endless. Africans has taken & embraced foreign music for too long:rap, r&b, pop. its only a gud thing if we sell afrobeat to them. we should start thinking beyond our local cycle.
@femre1 shakespeare ? lol but i get the point, we do have to think global and we have to accept that our culture will be diluted in the translation process to be able to be digested in a way that foriengers can absorb better.
FELA! is now in the uk , am not sure if i am going to see it or not, maybe its just better to let "sleeping dogs lie" and remember the REAL FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI as i remember him in his heyday.. may his soul rest in peace...
@logprome2 Oh please stop being pretentious. When you make a show, you have to be able to make it so that the audience can connect with it. That's why there are some minor alterations.
I love Fela and I think the Broadway show is awesome, but this performance is not like the Broadway show, and is definitely not like Fela. Looks like it was designed to make some kind of impact on the American TV audience. It's horseshit. It didn't do justice to the Broadway show at all!!
@inxtrmis i was wondering who the heck is that woman dressed like godknowswhat on the balcony and where the heck is that accent from ? we do not speak like that.. its a bit off honestly she could be doing anything .. its nothing to do with africa .. if the show is like this well you gotta laugh...
@squad1productions you are stupid .....at an act stupid ..not everybody has the person they are acting..or do you think will smith is really mark laury from bad boys...they dont need to be nigerian to play nigerian drummers ..IT CALLED ACTING:dont make nigerians look bad with your dumb comment
@Kuntakinte200 why is he making nigerians "look bad " here? he has the right to his opinion and of course as a nigerian we do know the difference especially with the painfully fake "yoruba " accents but again .. this is not real life its INTERPRETATION . not ACCURACY ..
Phenomenal..................attended last nights final performance which was my third..........extraordinary while moving and overdue. Kevin Mambo.....YES!!! And....Ms. LaBelle....ya....ya....ya.
Apparently all of you who are complaining, missed the point. This is NOT FELA, this is the MUSICAL an artistic interpretation of the life and contributions of the man behind the movement. AT LEAST some people on BROADWAY dare to bring something other than just plain tap dancing and cheerful signing. So, give it credit!
@1CarlosManuel thats why am not complaining that no nigerian is in the production . it feels like an interpretation its like nigerians playing black americans and their struggle for freedom in america .. i dont think that would go down too well do you ?
@spsdogg1 nigerians especially yoruba speakers know the difference .. its cute but so foriegn its a pity americans who dont know any better will think its our culture when its an american interpretation of what our culture is .. not accurate but interesting and feisty nothing to do with nigeria and nothing to do with fela ..
were any of the dancers or even the guy who played fela are they nigerian .. either way i love it i sawthe play and im full naija
drkskinhoney82 1 week ago
fela anikulapo kuti, king sunny ade, and many many more nigerian and other african artists from back in the sixties, seventies etc used to give concerts in the states but their audiences where always white , mainly cos they where prepared to pay the full asking prices at the shows and paid for the full price albums coming out at the time. just google those names to see what i mean, king sunny ade, the king of "juju" music is still going STRONG , fela's children continue to hold the torch .
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
Jada just look's smaller with that hair slicked back to her head like that, it shows her petite face.
fempageantry 1 month ago
i saw this 2 days ago in los angeles!!! IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
activefanforlife 1 month ago
Peeple you gotta understand that this is a big ( in the entertainment industry/arts ) but short 4 minute and 20 something second spot they have to let people know who fela was, what he stood for, what the shrine was like, you know, everything but in under 5 minutes and the right things to get people there who go to broadway shows but don't necessarily want to go to see " African ballets " to give them a taste and get people in to really see and hear the story.
soundquality 2 months ago
@soundquality "ballet" is not in any african culture , that is a very european concept. we dont do "ballet " especially in the west african concept.. its UNKNOWN ..
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
@SuperQueenofAfrica Yea thanks Queen. I understand that, that is why I put it in quotation marks because that is how it is marketed or understood here when presented in a big theatre and not just an arts or cultural festival.
soundquality 1 month ago
@soundquality am not hating on the musical, its an INTERPRETATION not a duplication of who fela was.... the lead has done his homework and does a great job with it.. and to be honest what is good about it is that it exposes american blacks to a world they have no idea about because when fela used to travel to the us to do shows back in the day his audience was overwhelmingly white, in them he had a core audience for years . they went to the shows and paid for the albums. no bootlegging allowed.
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
not trying to be a troll but, dose not hold a candel to fela
yomocy 2 months ago
@yomocy You are not a troll, you are leaving your comments, but appreciate the fact that they are trying to uphold his memory
Foresythe 1 month ago
@yomocy point taken but we have to give them credit ...
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
This is disastrous!!! Not the abami eda we grew up with his music.
bendamify 2 months ago
@bendamify its better than nothing remember they are coming from a completely different space , they can only interpret and adapt fela's story to be able to absorb what they can of it..
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
I hate to concur with those who find this video less than, but this is truly a wack job! I'm amazed how successful this musical has been with such portrayal. Broadway or not, this is Africa poorly portrayed once again by the Wild West under the auspices of ... This is what happens when you add sugar to egusi soup to entice the sweet tooth.
KUKULIVE 2 months ago
@KUKULIVE there is no point in us getting angry about it.. how can they eat egusi soup with their palates are not geared up for it ? think about it.
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
How could anyone fully capture the real Fela, to complain that this man interpretations is not accurate shows arroganece and elitism, and child like expectations. At least we are getting a glimpse of Fela as opposed to nothing at all. Some people are born with a negative tongue.
Bmants 2 months ago
Saw the actual broadway show....it was AMAZING!!!
youngNfree 2 months ago
When cat sleep...rat biting tail...best line.
jackieforde 3 months ago
aww yes the dancing!
wendyluvskyle 3 months ago
Love the show, but i come from an Nigerian family. so to me personally it would have been more authentic to have the cast majority nigerian or at least fela. great job either way though.
LDNballer 3 months ago
@LDNballer forget that lol, its not going to happen , besides remember this is an interpretation only for us we know the difference but for them this is the nearest they will ever get to who we actually are.
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
cool stuff
NZE4USA 3 months ago
Horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 This is not the Abami Eda that we knew. Messed up badly! They could have used Dede Mabioukwu!!!!
joshnengi 3 months ago
Comment removed
unak78 4 months ago
I so wanted to like this clip but this man acting as Fela does not for me, embody the spirit of Fela. Fela commanded the stage with even small intricate movements. Glaring at the camera and shouting does not a Fela make. Trust the Americans to mess things up. Royally...
nurache 4 months ago
Wow. This show looks absolutely fantastic.
ritsfata 5 months ago
1 dislike = 1 zombie on facebook.......
sexybuchi 5 months ago in playlist sexybuchi's Favourited Videos 2
This makes me so proud to be Nigerian
mzBerry316 6 months ago
@mzBerry316 Sure. Abami Eda is a true Legend. One of the only names that linger for good,that's why those fools will never go down in folklore like this legend of a man who was the voice of the ordinary,a true champion of anti-oppression, discrimination,and tyranny. FELA LIVES!!!
spliffveron 5 months ago
@mzBerry316 same oo!! na you sabii
purplypassion 4 months ago
Guys pls calm down,D broadway in America is just like D apollo or other major theatre in uk, it is where the life, legacy & works of great artist & musicians are acted or shown to D world.nigerian should be proud that 'Fela' is being acted just like shakespare, micheal jackson, elvis presley, james brown. D list is endless. Africans has taken & embraced foreign music for too long:rap, r&b, pop. its only a gud thing if we sell afrobeat to them. we should start thinking beyond our local cycle.
femre1 6 months ago
@femre1 shakespeare ? lol but i get the point, we do have to think global and we have to accept that our culture will be diluted in the translation process to be able to be digested in a way that foriengers can absorb better.
SuperQueenofAfrica 1 month ago
Fela the musical is amazing. the American cast and british cast are fabulous. Proud of them all. So much energy
ThaRealBlackCurrent 6 months ago
FELA! is now in the uk , am not sure if i am going to see it or not, maybe its just better to let "sleeping dogs lie" and remember the REAL FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI as i remember him in his heyday.. may his soul rest in peace...
aitan844 6 months ago
@logprome2 Oh please stop being pretentious. When you make a show, you have to be able to make it so that the audience can connect with it. That's why there are some minor alterations.
daveibukun 6 months ago
naija legend
luvwalie 6 months ago
ridículo ... un show.. fela kuti era música, no un show
claroscurouro 7 months ago
Jada looks greasy
cliffehaines 7 months ago
BLACK POWER!
blackboysports 8 months ago
@TheOpenID lol she looks angry...
down with botox/surgery :-(
LadiiCheeks 8 months ago
Lets be fair. this is not Fela. Those of us who the true story and watched Fela growing up know that this musical was modified for America TV.
aghogho123 9 months ago
@aghogho123 +WELL SAID..
aitan844 9 months ago
I love Fela and I think the Broadway show is awesome, but this performance is not like the Broadway show, and is definitely not like Fela. Looks like it was designed to make some kind of impact on the American TV audience. It's horseshit. It didn't do justice to the Broadway show at all!!
inxtrmis 10 months ago
@inxtrmis i was wondering who the heck is that woman dressed like godknowswhat on the balcony and where the heck is that accent from ? we do not speak like that.. its a bit off honestly she could be doing anything .. its nothing to do with africa .. if the show is like this well you gotta laugh...
aitan844 9 months ago
@aitan844 When you make a show, you have to be able to make it so that the audience can connect with it. That's why there are some minor alterations.
daveibukun 6 months ago
@daveibukun so that means the audience cant connect with what is essentially a nigerian iconic figure then..
aitan844 6 months ago
@kuntakinte or wateva u call yourself
u are stupid for saying squad1productions is stupid
do nigerians play the djimbe?
why not shoot bad boys in a nigerian environment and tell us its a story that happened in america
mumu
blanqt 11 months ago
@blanqt the name should be self explanatory ! lol¬ funny he could not come back to you on that one.. yeye people..
aitan844 9 months ago
what's all this singing about?Fela was hardcore, no drama at all.
MrPolobally 11 months ago
this is nothing like FELA and FELA never had people from senegal drumming or dancing for him
not original at alllllllllllllllllllllllll
FELA is a true born Nigerian
squad1productions 11 months ago
@squad1productions you are stupid .....at an act stupid ..not everybody has the person they are acting..or do you think will smith is really mark laury from bad boys...they dont need to be nigerian to play nigerian drummers ..IT CALLED ACTING:dont make nigerians look bad with your dumb comment
Kuntakinte200 11 months ago
@Kuntakinte200 why is he making nigerians "look bad " here? he has the right to his opinion and of course as a nigerian we do know the difference especially with the painfully fake "yoruba " accents but again .. this is not real life its INTERPRETATION . not ACCURACY ..
aitan844 9 months ago
Phenomenal..................attended last nights final performance which was my third..........extraordinary while moving and overdue. Kevin Mambo.....YES!!! And....Ms. LaBelle....ya....ya....ya.
metrogal39 1 year ago
Apparently all of you who are complaining, missed the point. This is NOT FELA, this is the MUSICAL an artistic interpretation of the life and contributions of the man behind the movement. AT LEAST some people on BROADWAY dare to bring something other than just plain tap dancing and cheerful signing. So, give it credit!
1CarlosManuel 1 year ago 41
@1CarlosManuel thats why am not complaining that no nigerian is in the production . it feels like an interpretation its like nigerians playing black americans and their struggle for freedom in america .. i dont think that would go down too well do you ?
aitan844 9 months ago
dis nt the real FELA.
ade462 1 year ago
shytttttttttt!!!!!
TheYvessolo 1 year ago
comercial afrobeat ISN"T Afrobeat!!!
Chambrette 1 year ago
THIS IS NOTHING LIKE FELA NOTHING LIKE IT AT ALL
spsdogg1 1 year ago
@spsdogg1 nigerians especially yoruba speakers know the difference .. its cute but so foriegn its a pity americans who dont know any better will think its our culture when its an american interpretation of what our culture is .. not accurate but interesting and feisty nothing to do with nigeria and nothing to do with fela ..
aitan844 9 months ago
Can we just talk about how GOD Jaeda looks right here.....like seriously she took a bath in cocobutter before this.
booboo3345 1 year ago
Danny killin it at 1:57 !
sk8rtuti 1 year ago
This is THE Broadway show. Nothing can compare to this in any way.
sk8rtuti 1 year ago
@sk8rtuti the real thing is the real thing,, and the real thing is long gone.. god rest is soul..
aitan844 9 months ago
I saw this on Broadway!!! one word: AMAZINGGG!!!!
ghomsid 1 year ago 8