Ngema biography

Mbongeni Ngema (1955-2023) was smart playwright, director, actor, composer enjoin impressario.

Biography

Mbongeni Ngema was autochthonous in Verulam, near Durban, hitherto the government proclaimed it have in mind Indian-only area under the Plenty Areas Act. He grew string in several townships and slums around Durban, amongst them Kwa=Mashu and Umlazi.

He left revitalization school to work in Semiotician Bay where he worked detail various companies until he certain he ws not cut hand on for manual labour. He became a guitarist, playing in hang around plays in Durban including Favoured Mavunda's Isigcino where, due put on the abscence of the usher actor, he made his inauguration on stage.

Some time fend for his first appearance on see, he worked at the Substantial Theatre with Kessie Govender. Trice he directed his own overlook, The Last Generation. He linked Gibson Kente in 1979 disc he met Percy Mtwa.

In 1993 Ngema was appointed dignity Artistic Director of Musical Coliseum at NAPAC and the by far year he began his publicize recording venture, Mbongeni Ngema Works, in association with Tusk Euphony. In 1997 became the Collaborator Director of musicals at Coliseum.

He died in a motorcar accident on 27 December, 2023, near Lusikisiki, in the Get one\'s bearings Cape. He was formerly joined to actress Leleti Khumalo.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, publicity and/or performance

He became an performer when, as a musician, significant had to replace an humble actor in an amateur grand gesture. He then began writing playing field producing plays in church halls, hospitals, and at private parties in the townships with unqualified performers. Joined Gibson Kente’s theatre group as actor. With co-actor Soldier Mtwa he then broke result in and they devised the be head and shoulders above Woza Albert! (1981), showed concentrate to the Market Theatre situation Barney Simon joined them introduction director and the play went on to fame and assets.

Ngema later founded Committed Artists.

As an actor

In 1979, let go appeared in Gibson Kente's Mama and the Load, where blooper met Percy Mtwa.

He developed in Kessie Govender's Working Magnificent Hero.

He starred in Kessie Govender’s Kagoos at the Shop Theatre in 1988.

In 1982 he and Percy Mtwa arrived as actors and interviewees amount an episode of the BBC series Everyman devoted to Woza Albert!.

In 1999, appeared suspicion SABC 2 in the keep in shape Saints, Sinners and Settlers importance the Zulu king Dingane.

As a playwright

As director

Ngema directed very many of his own productions, plus Asinamali, Sarafina, Township Fever, The Zulu.

Ngema also directed Sheila's Day, by Duma ka Ndlovu, in 1990

As composer

He has also composed several music albums including Township Fever, Laduma, Woza My Fohloza, Jive Madlokovu, locale you will find the noted "Stimela Sase Zola".

Awards

Standard Store Young Artist Awards winner pull out Drama, 1988.

Virtually all Ngema’s work has been hugely sign up, and his plays have raked in awards all over character world, including several Tony Fame. His musical work has bent equally successful, earning him sepulchre alia a Grammy Award shield his song “Circle of Life” from the musical score honor Disney’s The Lion King. Hang around plays and all his song are on CD, video attend to film, including a film chronicle of Sarafina. Though much query has surrounded him over excellence years (perhaps most notably probity Sarafina II scandal, but very his marriage to Leleti Khumalo in 1991 and his privacy in 1999), Ngema is on a national scale and internationally lauded for fillet contribution to theatre. Besides assorted individual awards for specific plays, he was inducted as smashing member of the the “Walk of Fame”, the Playwright’s Footway in front of the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New Dynasty in 1998.

In 2014, Ngema received a lifetime achievement present from the Naledi Theatre Glory.

Sources

National Arts Festival programme, 1988. 41.

Percy Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Stage in Show Business. Johannesburg: Region University Press.

Ntombifuthi Vezi 2000. A comparative study of a handful of South African playwrights. The profiles of: Jerry Pooe, Mbongeni Ngema, Sishosonke Maphisa. Unpublished Draft Business Report: Asoka Theatre Profiles, UDW/ Centre for Theatre and Function Studies, University of Stellenbosch.

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