Andrew Dosunmu to Bring out the Funk; Helmer Boards Focus Features’ Fela Kuti Biopic

It was supposed to be the possible project that 12 Years a Slave filmmaker Steve McQueen would possibly direct after his stunning debut (Hunger), but now it’s one of the more prominent members of the current wave of talented indie filmmakers who’ll take on a project featuring one of Africa’s musical icons. TheWrap reports that Andrew Dosunmu (the helmer of Restless City and Mother of George – Oscilloscope Laboratories 09.07) will direct Fela Kuti – the biopic that Chris Abani and Focus’ own James Schamus have been drafting all the way back since 2009. In our books, this should make for one lush, visually sensual portraits.

Gist: Based on Michael Veal’s “Fela: The Life and Times of An African Musical Icon,” this is about the 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.

Worth Noting: Dosumu is originally from Nigeria – the exact birthplace of Fela.

Do We Care?: I still recall my being floored at the Park City (Sundance) inconvenient midnight-ish wolrd premiere screening at the Holiday Village for Restless City. Here is our interview with the filmmaker later that year. Dosumu might have chosen the longer route towards his filmmaking career, but, a bigger budget and an assured skillset should make this required viewing. Chiwetel Ejiofor was one onboard with McQueen at the helm – but we’ll see how that pans out. Let’s hope for a 2014 production start date.