Leading Nigerian music artists have called for national rebirth as the Broadway-style musical drama, Jungle Story 2, debuted in Lagos.
Produced by Nigerian musician cum entertainer, Lanre Fasasi popularly called Sound Sultan, he was joined on stage during the show by the Afro-beats lord, Femi Kuti, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Innocent 2Baba Idibia, AY, Segun Adefila and his Crown Troupe, Lasisi Elenu, M.I. Abaga, Buchi, Basket Mouth, Kate Henshaw, Helen Paul, Johnny Drille, Seyi Shay and Nigerian comedian, Damilola Adekoya, popularly called Princess, among others.
The musical drama, which focuses on a land that became a jungle because a spell was cast on known corrupt individuals, was staged at the Terra Kulture, in Victoria Island, Lagos and featured a host of some of Nigeria’s biggest actors, comedians and musicians.
Jungle Story 2, a sequel to the highly successful 2018 debut, was produced by Sound Sultan’s Naija Ninja productions and supported by the MTN Foundation as part of its arts and culture initiative which has sponsored some of Nigeria’s most compelling art, poetry and theatre productions and the creative minds behind them for about a decade.
Commenting on the show, Sound Sultan said the musical was a creative expression of his opinion on current issues in the country.
“The story talks about some of the issues our country is dealing with creatively and imaginatively. Many Nigerians are going through so much on a daily basis that it is hard sometimes to take a step back and look at the bigger picture,” he said.
He added: “The story is about a land that became a jungle because the motherland cast a spell on its people that whoever indulged in corruption would be transformed into an animal. Over the years, it became a full-fledged jungle due to the pervasive corrupt acts of its people.”
Also speaking on why it supported the show, Abasi-Ekong Udobang, Senior Manager, Programme Implementation, MTN Foundation said, “Our creatives have always found the voice to speak about our country – through their art, acting and music.
“The message of Jungle Story 2 reminds us about how arts and culture empower us in a transformative way to make sense of the themes that have defined us as a people.”
