Andrew Dosunmu will direct Focus Features’ drama with music Fela Kuti, which is currently in development. Focus CEO James Schamus and co-CEO Andrew Karpen made the announcement today.
A human rights activist, sexual revolutionary, and political maverick, Fela Kuti was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was the king of Afrobeat, a fusion of jazz, funk, psychedelic rock, and Yoruba chants and rhythms. Taking on Nigeria’s rapidly changing and often corrupt government in the 1970s, Fela pushed boundaries in art and life. His legacy as a charismatic visionary continues to inspire the contemporary hip-hop world and generations of artists who believe in the power of music to transform people and cultures.
Focus executive vice president, international production Teresa Moneo is supervising Fela Kuti for president of production Jeb Brody. The Cine Mosaic production is produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher and Leigh Blake.
The production’s source material is Michael Veal’s 2000 book Fela: The Life and Times of An African Musical Icon, and is not an adaptation of, or affiliated with, the Broadway musical Fela! Fela Kuti will include original music from the performer himself. Nigerian poet Chris Abani and Mr. Schamus have written the most recent drafts of the movie’s screenplay.
Mr. Dosunmu’s latest feature as director is Mother of George, starring Isaach De Bankolé and Danai Gurira; the movie world-premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and was released theatrically by Oscilloscope this month. A native of Nigeria, Mr. Dosunmu began his career as a design assistant with Yves St. Laurent. He became a well-known photographer, and his film work started through a music video he made with Isaac Hayes. He has since directed music videos for artists including Youssou N’Dour, Aaron Neville, and Common. Mr. Dosunmu has also directed episodes of the hit South African television show Yizo Yizo. His documentary Hot Irons (1999) won the Reel Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and Best Documentary at FESPACO, Africa’s largest film festival. His acclaimed debut fiction feature, Restless City, world-premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically by Screen Media Films in 2012.
Mr. Schamus and Mr. Karpen commented, “Fela Kuti lived many lifetimes in just the one, so Fela Kuti will not be a standard biopic. The combination of Andrew Dosunmu’s insight into characters and relationships with Fela’s spectacular music will enthrall audiences around the globe.”