When Fela Kuti met Nina Simone:

edit to add: I’m Kidjo here, but jest for yucks I searched “nina” + “fela” to find that Ronald K. Brown /Evidence dance in Brooklyn BRIC did a piece in 2003 Come Ye that featured music of Fela Kuti and Nina Simone. There are a plethora of tributes to either or but not really both. And do note that despite knowing next to zero about Afro-Pop or Africa generally I did bring Femi Kuti and a crew of about 10 to Cubberley Center. I bring that up in dozens of cab rides. And Ms. Somi is Ugandan and Rwandan, it says. (Not sure the credentials of the person whose line I stole).

The evening will also include Come Ye (2003). Inspired by the music and sociopolitical legacies of artists/activists Nina Simone and Fela Kuti, this multimedia work utilizes Mr. Brown’s signature style of kinetic storytelling through African, Caribbean, modern, ballet and social dance styles to summon warriors, angels and activists dedicated to the pursuit of liberation and peace amidst the strug­gles of human conflict. Come Ye includes music by Nina Simone and Fela Kuti, and a video collage by Robert Penn.

Meklit “The Nile” was at Stanford just last nite, Aleta Hayes and I texted over it; I was watching Talisman quoting Peter Gabriel (but not the nut graph of “police room 609”) about Biko at the time. And I did shout to my Ghanian friend Nya Jade, Ghana by way of Belmont University. Darius Rucker meets Makeba?

One people, one source.

and1: if I make it to Somi at UCLA it would be 2/26 Thursday, guesting (she) with Monk Institute players.