- Fela and the Kalakuta Queens returns to Lagos for 11 festive-season performances
- Shows hold at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, from December 26, 2025, to January 11, 2026
- Production explores Fela’s legacy and the powerful role of Kalakuta women
Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP) has announced the return of its celebrated stage musical, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, to Lagos as part of the 2025 festive season, rekindling excitement among theatre lovers and admirers of the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
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Eko Hot Blog reports that the production, which has previously enjoyed successful runs in Lagos, Abuja, South Africa, Egypt and Dubai, is scheduled for 11 performances between December 26 and 30, 2025; January 1 to 4; and January 10 and 11, 2026. Shows will hold daily at 3pm and 7pm at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on the return, the producers described the Lagos run as symbolic, noting that it brings the story back to the city where Fela’s influence, activism and musical revolution took root.
“Bringing this production back to Lagos is deeply meaningful, because this is where Fela’s legacy was lived, contested and celebrated,” they said.
Directed by renowned theatre practitioner Bolanle Austen-Peters, the musical explores Fela’s life, music and political activism, while centring the often-misunderstood women of the Kalakuta Republic.
The production interrogates post-independence African realities such as corruption, abuse of power, underdevelopment and lingering colonial influence, themes the producers say remain strikingly relevant today.
The musical recently marked a historic moment with a special performance on October 1 during the reopening of the National Arts Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary.
According to the organisers, that performance further reaffirmed the production’s place in Nigeria’s cultural history.
Central to the story is the bond between Fela and the women who shared his revolutionary vision, highlighting their courage, artistry and identity, while challenging long-held misconceptions about their roles within the Kalakuta Republic.
“This is not just a celebration of Fela, but a tribute to the women who stood with him and shaped the movement,” the producers noted.
Produced and directed by Austen-Peters and co-produced by Joseph Umoibom, the production features a stellar cast led by Laitan Adeniji as Fela, alongside Osas Ighodaro, Yewande Osamein, Bunmi Olunloyo, Sharon Adaeze, Inna Erinze, Linda Nwanneka and Josephine Ewuru, among others.
Audience members at recent performances described the show as visually stunning and emotionally gripping, praising the costumes, choreography and powerful musical renditions.
“The energy was electric from start to finish, and the storytelling was both entertaining and thought-provoking,” a theatre enthusiast said after the show.
The producers added that the festive season run promises deeper storytelling, renewed energy and an immersive theatrical experience that celebrates music, resistance and African identity, while positioning Lagos once again as a hub for world-class stage productions.
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