INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Akili Ni Mali, an actor and independent recording artist from San Diego, will perform as legendary musician Nina Simone in two shows this February, honoring Black History Month.

“I’m very blessed to be a part of it and telling her story. Don’t just come to see one, see both,” Mali said.

The first of Mali’s two Nina Simone performances will take place at The Jazz Kitchen on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $30, plus fees.

This tribute concert will feature some of Simone’s iconic songs, performed by Mali and an ensemble of musicians: Cassius Goens (drums), Michael Santos (bass), Christopher Pitts (piano), Charles Platz (guitar), and Brandon Douthitt (saxophone).

The second performance will be held at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, where the show includes adult themes. The show runs until March 2.

Both performances explore the life and music of Nina Simone, the “High Priestess of Soul,” whose powerful music became a symbol of the Civil Rights movement. The production features a fictional conversation between Simone and three other Black women, offering insight into how the singer used her voice to respond to the nation’s struggles and celebrate its resilience.

Mali, a Ball State graduate, has built an extensive career in regional theater, including work with companies such as the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Beef & Boards, Steppenwolf Theatre, Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, and the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company.

About Nina Simone

Nina Simone (1933-2003) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist, renowned for her powerful and emotive voice that transcended genres such as jazz, blues, soul, and classical music. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina, she showed early musical talent, studying classical piano at Juilliard and later at the Curtis Institute of Music. Despite facing racial discrimination in her early career, Simone became a trailblazer in the music world, blending her classical training with the social and political themes that defined much of her work.

Simone’s music became deeply tied to the Civil Rights Movement, with songs like “Mississippi Goddam,” “Four Women,” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” becoming anthems of resistance. Her unapologetic activism and unique voice earned her the title “High Priestess of Soul.” Throughout her career, she released over 40 albums, and her influence extends beyond music, inspiring generations of artists and activists.

Simone’s personal life was marked by both triumph and tragedy, including struggles with mental health, volatile relationships, and financial difficulties.

“Everyone can relate to her resiliency. She’s fearless. I mean, there’s a quote in the play, it means no fear. You just are not afraid. You just go for things head on. And I think that everyone wants to be that way, wants to attack life’s issues that way, America’s issues that way. And we’re in a very trying time,” Mali said.