Ropeadope

A new off-Broadway musical based on the life and music of Fela (appropriately and enthusiastically titled Fela!) is now playing daily at 37 Arts in New York City.  With music performed and arranged by Antibalas, it is pretty much guaranteed to be way better than Cats. Two of Fela’s many sons are also currently touring and carrying on the Kuti legacy.  Femi Kuti has his own modern take on Afrobeat while Seun Kuti leads Egypt 80, his father’s former band.  Seun played a scorching set at Central Park’s Summerstage earlier this summer and is about as close to the real thing as you are going to get.  Also worth checking out are: Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble, Chicago Afrobeat Project, and Nomo who have a terrific album that just came out.