Jay-Z has officially jumped on board to join Will and Jada Pinkett Smith as producers of the new Broadway musical “Fela!”
It has been confirmed that the trio has provided financial backing to the production, though no specific details about the exact monetary investment have been released. Last month, speculation arose that Jay-Z might join the production when he remarked to the Associated Press that he was thinking about getting involved with the musical.
So far, the theatrical celebration of Nigerian musician and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has received rave reviews from critics. Preview seats for the production have been on sale since late October 2009, though the musical’s official opening night isn’t until November 23. “Fela!” was choreographed and directed by Bill T. Jones, stars Sahr Ngaujah as the title character and will be shown at the Eugene O’Neil theatre in New York City.
Hopefully this star-studded endorsement will encourage people to go learn about the life and times of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
Written by Shaira Brereton
