Concert Review: Fela! The Concert Sparks The Revolution of Sound
Fela! The concert draws its magnetic spirit from feeling like a theatrical show. It is a musical without being an outward play, deriving on the humans force that is Fela and his music to be “the act.” The father of Afrobeat and a renowned human rights activist, Fela Kuti lives within music history in a similar space to Bob Marley, Sam Cooke, and even 2Pac. They were charismatic figures that challenged society’s systematic mistreatment of blacks and the poor, while calling out historical, governmental corruption. Brought to you by Summerstage, Fela! The Concert paid homage to a man that saw music as the greatest tool against oppression.
With a 10 piece band and, even members of the original, Broadway musical FELA!, you WILL DANCE at Fela! The Concert. I say will because, Summerstage, is proudly presenting another show on July 31 at Rumsey Playfield. If the event is anything like the concert given at the Ford Amphitheatre, then patrons should expect a vibrant. FELA! is a nosedives into the history and vivacity of the Nigerian people, of which many were there proudly repping the flag. For Nigeria, FELA! is both a surprising/ unsurprising hero because, as seen today with many artists, there can be a “shut up and sing” mentality towards them. Yet, this concert showed the Fela can’t even be silent from his grave. He was too vivacious and invested in this world/ his country’s future to ever be forgotten.
Memorable is certainly what one could call Fela! The Concert. Not only was it a cultural experience, but it was also a spiritual one. From lighting to set design or dancing to vocal riffs, the entire show felt like a justification of why a nation can be embodied and tethered to a man. Some people are truly not human as much as cosmic; walking supernovas birthing galaxies of sound. The result was a show that was incredibly fun, rhythmic, and filled with an understanding of music’s power. Fela! The Concert made its Coney Island audience appreciate music as a tool of communication between people by blanking us until we see we are souls trying to get better while figuring out what we have that is good. Fela’s music was an embrace of life through remarking and affronts to those that wish to end it. For More Information On Fela! The Concert Click Here.
