Podcast Episode Summary
The month of June is declared "Black Music Month" in the United States, and to keep the celebration of black music relative and relevant to the mission of The Shrine, DJ 4th Wurld begins a multi-part series devoted to honoring the legacy of Kalakuta Republic. "Kalakuta Republic was the name musician and political activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti gave to the communal compound that housed his family, band members, and recording studio. Located at 14 Agege Motor Road, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria it had a free health clinic, and recording facility. Fela declared it independent from the Nigerian government after he returned from the United States in 1970" (Wikipedia, 2010, p. 1).
To start off the series, 4th Wurld conducts a one on one conversation with Ghariokwu Lemi, Kalakuta's renowned album cover artist with over twenty Africa 70/Egypt 80 album cover credits to his name. Later on in the program, 4th Wurld speaks with Sahr Ngaujah, the star of Fela! on Broadway. Sahr is the man who solely played Fela in the off-Broadway production of the award winning musical, and he now shares this spotlight with fellow thespian Kevin Mambo in the Broadway production of Fela!.
Hear about these two gentlemen's testimony regarding their first encounter with Fela; the unexpected loss of eight of the 11 nominations that Fela! received at the 2010 Tony awards along with the politics surrounding this incident; and hear Ghariokwu and Sahr's individual perspective on the preservation and perpetuation of the Kalakuta Republic.
Next week, The Shrine will present interviews with Sandra Izsadore, "the queen of Afro Beat;" Jelani Bellamy, the only melanated (black) Broadway theater manager, and special guest Stephen Hendel, the executive producer of Fela! on Broadway.
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For further information, song submissions, program ideas, praises, or critiques, the email address is dj4thwurld@gmail.com.
J O I N T H E W U R L D ! ! !
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