“Originally staged by Bolanle Austen‑Peters Productions, the Kalakuta Queens stage play flips the story to the 27 women who lived, danced, and revolted with Fela.”
Behind Every Legend, There’s a Collective
Behind every successful man is a woman, they say. But in Fela’s case, it wasn’t just one, it was ‘many.’ These women danced with him, lived with him, suffered alongside him, and, in their own way, shaped the sound and contributed immensely to the successful career of the Afrobeat legend. Let’s revisit the epic 2017 musical that brought their story to the stage.
A Musical Masterpiece with a Twist
Fela and the Kalakuta Queens wasn’t a regular stage play. It was a musical masterpiece by Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions that flipped the usual perspective. Instead of placing the spotlight solely on the Afrobeat icon, it focused on 27 powerful women: the Kalakuta Queens. They weren’t just background dancers. They were co-creators, team players, fighters, and lovers. And this time, it was their version of the story that took centre stage.
Standing Beside the Revolutionary
We already knew Fela as the bold, fearless artist who used music to call out corruption and injustice in Nigeria and beyond. But the musical reminded us that while Fela was out there shaking things up, these women were right beside him facing raids, brutality, public scorn, and private pain. And still, they stayed. They were even looked upon as outcasts in society.
Fusion of Sound, Spirit & Story
The brilliance of the play lay in how it blended everything —Afrobeat, dance, Yoruba spirituality, and vivid costuming — into one rich, emotional experience. It didn’t try to paint the Queens as perfect. Instead, we saw real women navigating jealousy, loyalty, heartbreak, and survival in a world that constantly tried to shrink them. As Marie Claire Nigeria aptly put it, these were “the Queens who danced a revolution.” And yes, they danced with fire in their bones and defiance in every step.
Cultural Memory & Reckoning
Framing the story through the women’s eyes wasn’t just refreshing, it was necessary. We most likely never would have gotten their side of the story if not for this musical. It challenged the way we often remember history, centering men and forgetting the women who held it all together. This production was more than art. It was memory. It was recognition.
“The Kalakuta Queens give us a new lens on Fela’s legacy—one of community, spirituality, and unspoken sacrifice.”
Why It Matters Today
At a time when more people are asking, “Whose stories have we left out?” Kalakuta Queens stage play felt like the answer we didn’t know we needed. A tribute, a reckoning, and a reminder that behind the music and the myth of this great legend were women who gave it all, even their silence.
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