On one of those lazy Sundays, I was on Twitter and noticed #FelaAndTheKalakutaQueens was trending. It had been trending on weekends for few weeks and I had ignored but on this particular day I began to wonder... what's got people so pumped up about this stage play? I read through the tweets. Every tweet gave a positive vibe and I got my thinking cap on. You know sometimes stories don't just jump or scream at you. Naaaaa. They have the potential but it requires you doing a lot of reading to shape it up in order to sell it. And that's what I did. Fortunately, the stage play had been extended for one more week.
Everyone who passes through the Iganmu route in Nigeria's Lagos sees the magnificent edifice. Nigeria's National Arts Theatre was built in the 70s as a space for the performing arts and culture but years of neglect has turned it into an architectural masterpiece that tourists admire. For decades, the West African country has lacked a space that gives audiences a wholesome stage play experience.
Nigeria is now witnessing a game-changing tactic that is helping to reinvigorate its theatre industry with the building of a technology equipped state of the art theatre by one of Nollywood's producers Bolanle Austen-Peters. Launched in 2017, the Terra Kulture Arena is currently playing host to a lavish new production on afrobeat King "Fela and the Kalakuta queens". The space gives an enhanced experience for audiences with the use of stage lights, props, audio and a digital projector. The electrifying performance which opened in December has held audiences spell-bound with the production company giving in to a wide demand for the stage play to be extended for another week. The Terra Kulture arena seats over 400 people and was packed full the weekend we did the shoot for the stage play that sought to highlight the women in the life of Nigerian afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Bolanle Austen Peters returned to her home country Nigeria in 2003 and established a space for arts and culture in Nigeria's Lagos. Her desire to pay attention to the arts culminated with the production of the first Nigerian musical "WAKAA the Musical" in 2013. The Ebola movie producer says there is need for individuals, private corporations and government to help in growing the industry. Bolanle says the industry has the potential to create jobs for the unemployed and should be a priority for the entertainment industry.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, though could not watch all the scenes as I had to work. For those who missed, they will be back in April during the Easter break.
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