In this docu-drama, UNN will showcase the best talents of its creative units in a joint performance of Music and Theatre Arts students of the two departments, with music students playing the tunes of Fela live, while the Theatre and Film students will display their best dancers and actors in a Founder’s Day Performance that will x-ray the life and essence of the most innovative musical legends of the Century
FELA Kuti, a docudrama is a fact-driven story of Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti that focuses on Fela’s defiant radical crusade against injustice in a brutal military era. On being invited as the official media observer of this Founder’s Day joint Theatre and Music Production by the new Head of Department of Theatre and Film Studies UNN, I prodded to know why the school decided to honour Fela Kuti on their Founder’s Day. My interaction with Associate Professor Gregory Mbajiorgu yielded these startling and stunning responses below:
Greg Mbajiorgu:
“The Founder of the University of Nigeria, RT. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Fela Anikulakpo Kuti have salient positive values or merits in common. Both were brave pan-Africanists who bravely confronted forces of oppression at different eras. While Azikiwe did his via the media in the late 50s, 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 MalcomX, Azikiwe’s pre-colonial literary activism mostly in newspapers exposed the evils of the colonial rules 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 Afrobeat musical sub-genre. Zik also will forever be celebrated not only as the first president of Nigeria but also as one of the finest political figures of our continent.
“Aziikwe and Fela are totally detribalized and are heroic and legendary in every sense of the word. While Azikiwe’s nationalistic rhetorics 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 his 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 at the United States of America from Lincoln University to the University of Pennsylvania and others.
“In this docu-drama, UNN will showcase the best talents of its creative units in a joint performance of Music and Theatre Arts students of the two departments, with music students playing the tunes of Fela live, while the Theatre and Film students will display their best dancers and actors in a Founder’s Day Performance that will x-ray the life and essence of the most innovative musical legends 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 staring 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. Other lead perfomers on stage are: Emmanuel Christiana, (Funmilayo Kuti), Martins Richard (Igo Chico), Nwaeze Enuice (Kikelomo), Okeke Darlington (Tony Allen), C. Ifesorochi (Sewa), and Samson Oladito, (Tunde)
“Other Crew members are: Alaike Chioma (Props), Mberekpe Emmanuella (Light), Aneke Chimdindu (Set), Ngwu Blessing (Costume), Greg Mbajiorgu (Executive Director), Dr. Obiorah Ekwueme (Technical Director), Rev. Fr. Ben. Agbo (HOD) and Music Consultant), 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 are as follows: wife of the Founder, Her Excellency Prof. Uche Azikiwe, Chancellor of the University Prince Adeyeye Enitan Adewusi (Ooni of Ife), 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 communities. The Members of the Senate Ceremonials Committee, led by its Chairman, Prof. Chima B. Nwanguma, who has left no stone unturned to ensure that this production turns out remarkable and historic, will also be present at the occasion.”
