‘Fela!’ Catching the Flight to Nigeria?

After a successful 14-month run in Broadway, producers of the Tony Award winning musical “Fela!” is planning to bring the production to its native Lagos, Nigeria probably in the middle of this year.

“We’re in the process of trying to make arrangements to do so,” says “Fela!” lead producer Stephen Hendel. “Fela!” chronicles the story of Nigerian activist and Afrobeat music pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Set in the Nigerian nightclub, the Shrine, in the town of Lagos, producers are now in talks with Nigerian producers to bring the production to its rightful home as a promise to Kuti’s family. In addition, Hendel would like to bring the show not only in Nigeria but also in other cities across the globe “where no Broadway musical has ever been”, although no specific information about the plan has been confirmed at the moment as discussions are still being wrapped up.

Meanwhile, the producer also shares that the London production of “Fela!” will be recorded to be shown simultaneously this month in the US, the UK, Canada and other countries . The musical is currently being staged in London’s National Theatre.

Hendel and choreographer Bill T. Jones created the musical which first found its ground off-Broadway before premiering at the Great White Way in 2009. Its run in the famous NYC district earned 11 Tony Award nods with one for Best Musical honors and eventually bagging three Tony medallions. The musical ended its Broadway run on Sunday.