Everyone knows about the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. By “everyone” I mean “nobody.” I’ve literally never heard of him, either as a musician or a political figure in his home country. That might change as a movie of his life is being planned.
According to THR, Focus Features is going to make a biopic based on the book Fela: The Life and Times of an African Musical Icon by Michael Veal. I have heard of King Sunny Ade and some other African musicians, but not Fela Kuti. Apparently he was the originator of "Afrobeat" music and was also a political activist in his own country who was often jailed for political dissent and once tried to run for President of Nigeria. He died about 10 years ago.
Focus hasn’t announced who will adapt the book, direct the film, or star as Kuti. Depending on who signs on, Kuti might become know to more people in the US than just world music fans.
