Fela! Show is sued by biographer

Fela! Show is sued by biographer
The producers of an the award winning Broadway musical about the life of Afrobeat star Fela Kuti are being sued in the US. Carlos Moore, who was the late musicians official biographer has claimed that the producers of Fela! Have breached his copyright. He has stated that they failed to credit his book Kuti as a source of the show and he is seeking 3.1m in damages. Richard Kornber who is associated with the Broadway musical has stated I am really shocked at the turn of events. The idea he is now suing the production that a year ago he was praising seems weird to me. The legal case states that Mr Moore was first approached by the representatives of the production in 2007 and was offered money for the exclusive right to his book. Although it has been stated by Mr Moore that his agent rejected the offer on his behalf. The production opened in July 2008 and Moore was invited in June 2009 and again in September 209 to attend rehearsals and consult with the creators, the legal papers claim. International music star Fela Kuti was known for his fight against corruption and injustice. The show was last year nominated for best musical at the Tony Awards. As well as damages and product sales resulting from the show, Mr Moore is seeking to stop the production opening at London’s National Theatre. The show, for which rapper Jay Z and actor Will Smith are executive producers, is currently being previewed in London and officially opens on 16 November.