featuring Mádé Kuti & DJ Oluwafemi

July 15, 2022
DOWNSTAGE @ THE MANN

Please note: This performance will take place on the Presser Foundation Stage in the TD Pavilion as part of our new series, Downstage @ the Mann, where both audience and artist are on stage together in an up-close, under cover, and open-air setting. This will be a general admission, standing room only event.

The legendary Femi Kuti and his troupe, The Positive Force, bring a very special performance featuring Mádé Kuti to Downstage @ the Mann this summer! Join us as they bring the spirit of Africa to our stage on Saturday, July 16. Philadelphia's Oluwafemi will DJ the evening, including a post-show, on-stage dance party filled with funk, Afrobeat, old school soul, early hip hop, and more!

Before Femi was his own bandleader, he started playing saxophone in his father — Fela Kuti's — band, Egypt 80, in 1979, where he learned the ins and outs of performing with a legend. “My father was so huge,” Femi says with a laugh. “I taught myself everything I knew, so I was learning on the job, and you are not allowed to make mistakes. Being in front of such an icon, it can be intimidating.” In 1984, Femi had no choice but to fulfill his destiny after Fela was arrested at the Lagos airport just before the start of a U.S. tour and Femi was asked to be the frontman of his father’s band instead of cancelling the shows. From that day on, he’s never looked back. In 1986, Femi formed his own band, The Positive Force, which quickly gained notoriety as a formidable group in Afrobeat music. His self-titled first record was released in 1995 by Tabu/Motown, and has since followed a long journey, where he continues to expand the diversity of his artistry on most of his albums, bringing him a total of six GRAMMY® nominations.

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com, (800) 982-2787, or the Mann Box Office.

Downstage @ the Mann is made possible by The Presser Foundation.

Doors
6:30PM

Showtime
8:00PM