By Ayodele Johnson

The Afrobeats musician, Seun Kuti has been given a baton of responsibility that pictures him playing the role of his father, Fela, in the political drama, “77: The FESTAC Conspiracy” by Izu Ojukwu.

His profound on-screen experience will see him featured in the same picture listing Ramsey Nouah (Captain Joseph Dewa) and Rita Dominic (Suzie) who have already given film audiences a sense of what historical pieces should embody when they combined in an earlier movie, “76”, also produced by Ojukwu.

Wearing a stage-ready appearance that mirrored Fela in the eighties, Seun Kuti’s future date in The Festac Conspiracy came through his Instagram profile on Thursday, September 8, 2023.

There, a note justifying why he had to be listed focused beyond his obvious semblance to his father – it was for his “vibrant energy” meant to remind the viewers about “Fela and his stance on FESTAC”.

The storyline was two days before the commencement of the Second World African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) of 1977. An aggrieved ex-serviceman receives an invitation to join a cause aimed at frustrating the African political order. After accepting the invite, the serviceman becomes engrossed in an act of dissent that sees no limit towards achieving set goals.

What is a movie that connects with the legendary Fela without the Afrika Shrine? The optics reveal it as one of the settings where the storytelling will take place. Movie buffs have their eyes on this one, especially the younger generation that was unborn or still budding when most political events that have shaped current Nigeria or Africa took place.

Fela’s influence necessitated this picture to come to life.

His fearlessness and eloquence as a renowned jazz musician who was loved by many Nigerians who resented tyranny caused many headaches for the military. They had forced control away from the post-independence civilian authority in Nigeria and Fela was the bold figure who brought them to account using the simple art of music.

But that also brought on a terrible price to pay for the late political activist who died on 2nd August 1997. Fela had his home torched by soldiers and also experienced incarceration for up to 20 months over his criticism of authoritarian rulers. All these events and his deeds are the reasons he so quickly attained immortality close to three decades after his death.