Yesterday was Fela! Day in San Francisco! The Tony Award winning musical, based upon the music and political struggle of Nigerian artist, Fela Kuti, is playing until mid-December at the Curran Theater in San Francisco; and I encourage everyone in the Bay Area to check it out.

“Musical” doesn’t quite capture the power of this Afrobeat performance. This is a story of the pan-African black liberation struggle. This is about the impact of internalized oppression, and about the games that are played with people’s lives in the name of greed and corruption. This is about victimization and abuse. This is about knowledge and self-discovery. The dance, the song, and the energy, and the passion for justice are as contagious as the Movement itself.

In this holiday season, with occupy movements around the country and (in some cases) unnecessary acts of force to maintain social control, we need reminders about the universality of the quest for dignity and respect–that when we honor human rights, we create a space for all to rejoice in the rhythms of life–and peace. Fela! encompasses all these reminders and more. Bravo!

Copyright Monique W. Morris 2011