How MTN reunited Fela’s Kalakuta queens

Everybody knows a story or two about the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Ransom Kuti. The real question is, how much do you know about his backbones? How much do you know about the people who danced, sang and fought alongside Fela through thick and thin?

We’ve seen various theatre productions and musicals on the life of Fela Kuti. Yet we haven’t seen enough stories about the contributions of the Kalakuta Queens to Fela’s remarkable feats.

On the 15th of December, Fela’s Republic and the Kalakuta Queens, a production by Bolanle Austen Peters (BOP), had its command performance at Terra Kulture. The production is a musical that tells the gripping story of the women popularly known as the Kalakuta Queens, who stood by Fela during his triumphs and travails.

Sponsored by MTN Foundation, it narrated how the Queens danced and sang with Fela in the times of happiness, not omitting how they fought side by side Fela against the oppression of the government at the time.

Present at the command performance was Fela’s daughter, Yeni Kuti, who remarked that watching the musical made her really emotional. She thanked the cast and crew for a beautiful portrayal of true events.

Also present were two of the living queens, Lara and Laide. They talked about their experiences and the perfect portrayal on the stage.

The Fela’s Republic and the Kalakuta Queens musical is supported by MTN Foundation as part of its arts and culture causes. The foundation will also be sponsoring a line up of December theatre productions. They include Five Maids of Fadaka, and OMG.