By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
The docudrama Fela: The Man and His Music is a fact-driven story of Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti that focuses on the legendary musician’s defiant crusade against injustice in the brutal military era. On being invited as the official media observer of this Founder’s Day joint Theatre and Music Production by the Head of Department of Theatre and Film Studies UNN, I prodded to know why the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) decided to honour Fela Kuti on their Founder’s Day.
My interaction with Associate Professor Gregory Mbajiorgu yielded the startling and stunning responses below:
Greg Mbajiorgu: “The Founder of the University of Nigeria, RT. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti had salient positive values or merits in common. Both were brave pan-Africanists that fearlessly confronted forces of oppression at different eras. While Azikiwe did his via the media in the late 30s, before Nigeria’s independence, Fela’s political activism manifested in his post-independence songs that confronted oppressive military regimes and crusaded against social ills.
We also see similarities in their idealistic and philosophical messages. Fela’s songs could be described as extremely radical and confrontational in ways that remind us of Malcom X. Azikiwe’s pre-colonial literary activism, mostly in newspapers, exposed the evils of colonial rule in manners that remind us of Martin Luther King Jr.
“However, both were celebrated political activists and renowned innovators and pathfinders in their chosen fields. Fela remains forever in history books as the progenitor and leading advocate of the Afrobeat Musical sub-genre. Zik will forever be celebrated not only as the first President of Nigeria but also as one of the finest political figures of our continent.
Azikwe and Fela are totally detribalized, heroic, legendary figures in every sense of the word. “While Azikiwe’s nationalistic rhetoric was rooted in his early study of the works of Marcus Garvey, Fela’s baptism as a radical musician and a socio-political activist traces back to the historic encounter with his Afro-American lover and mentor Sandra Smith in 1969. Both Fela and Azikiwe had solid educational backgrounds. Fela studied music at Trinity College, London while the great Zik of Africa studied Political Science, Anthropology, Religion etc. in different Universities in the United States of America, from Lincoln University to the University of Pennsylvania and others.
“In this Founder’s Day docudrama, UNN will showcase the best talents of her creative faculty in a joint performance of the Music and Theatre Arts students, with music students playing the tunes of Fela live while the Theatre and Film students will display their best dancers and actors in a performance that will x-ray the life and essence of the most innovative musical legend of the century.”
The play, directed by Favour Ogene and Ikechukwu Erojikwe, will feature Thankgod Ofor as Fela Kuti, with other key actors and actresses starring in the play. The star instrumentalists from the Music Department performing in this production are: Bright Ihejiekwu (Saxophonist), Chibuike Chinweze (Keyboardist), Joel Ugwu (Trumpeter), Ebuka Kasiemobi (Drummer), Chisom Idika (Guitarist), Onyekwelu Chidubem (Ichaka), Abaneke Rapuruchukwu (Drummer).
The Singers are: Ikebido Sophia, Mbah Favour, Ezeudu Ifeanyi. The lead performers on stage are: Ofor Thankgod (Fela), Emmanuel Christiana (Funmilayo Kuti), Martins Richard (Igo Chico), Nwaeze Enuice (Kikekelome), Okeke Darlington (Tony Allen), C. Ifesorochi (Sewa), Samson Oladito (Tunde).
Other crew members are: Alaike Chioma (Props), Mberekpe Emmanuella (Light), Aneke Chimdindu (Set), Ngwu Blessing (Costume), Assoc. Prof Greg Mbajiorgu (Executive Director), Dr Obiorah Ekwueme (Technical Director), Rev. Fr. Ben. Agbo (HOD), and Music Consultant), Mr. Baba Daniel Danlami (Music Director), Miss. Ogu Genevieve (Stage Manager), Mr. Chidomebi Igwe, (Production Secretary).
Expected Special Guests of Honour at the Founder’s Day special performance include: The wife of the Founder, Prof. Uche Azikiwe; the Chancellor of the University, Prince Adeyeye Enita Adewusi (The Ooni of Ife); the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, General Ike Nwachukwu and other External Members of the University Governing Council.
The Acting Vice Chancellor and Chief Host for the night is Prof. Polycap Emeka Chigbu who will grace the occasion with his Principal Officers and other Management Staff of the University. Also expected are members of the University Alumni Association and Members of the University Community.
The Members of the Senate Ceremonials Committee, led by its Chairman, Prof. Chima B. Nwanguma, who has left no stone unturned to ensure that the production turns out remarkable and historic will also be present at the occasion.
The event will take place on October 8, 2024 at the New Arts Theatre, University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus, and will start at 6:00pm.
