Fela! producers donate N407,000 to Yeni Kuti

Producers of the Broadway musical, ‘Fela!’, donated N407,000 to Yeni Kuti after the last show of ‘Fela! In Lagos’, which took place on April 26, 2011. A representative of the producers announced, after the cast of the musical came out to take a bow, that the donation to Yeni Kuti was made “to show appreciation for her support and motherly role all through their stay in Nigeria.” An obviously emotional YK Power, as Kuti is fondly called, was on stage to receive the donation but couldn’t go through with her acceptance speech as she broke down in tears. As she was led away from the stage, her half-brother, Seun Kuti, held her in a warm embrace, wiping tears off her cheeks.

The final show of ‘Fela! In Lagos’ was attended by the Ghanaian vice president, John Dramani Mahama. He revealed that he grew up listening to the afrobeat legend, Fela, and hopes the producers of the Broadway musical will take it to Accra, too.