Akin Ogundiran, chair of the Africana Studies Department in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, will participate in “Fela: From Abeokuta to Broadway – A Panel Discussion” set for 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, at the Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.
This event will focus on the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the legendary Nigerian musician whose soulful Afro-beat rhythms have inspired generations of music lovers, musicians and activists. The discussion supports the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s upcoming presentation of the Tony award-winning Broadway musical “FELA” that will be performed Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 25-26, at the Belk Theatre.
Ogundiran will offer insights on Fela’s protest music and political activism. Other panelists are Okyerema Asante, an accomplished Asante drummer who hails from Ghana, and Obakunle Akinlana, a storyteller, musician, lecturer and percussionist who has performed throughout the United States and West Africa. Amadou Shakur, a senior consultant for a variety of organizations, including UNCESCO, will serve as panel moderator.