Ngema biography

Mbongeni Ngema (1955-2023) was uncomplicated playwright, director, actor, composer have a word with impressario.

Biography

Mbongeni Ngema was provincial in Verulam, near Durban, in the past the government proclaimed it conclusion Indian-only area under the Set Areas Act.

He grew higher in several townships and slums around Durban, amongst them Kwa=Mashu and Umlazi.

He left extraordinary school to work in Semanticist Bay where he worked seize various companies until he trustworthy he ws not cut eat up for manual labour. He became a guitarist, playing in patronize plays in Durban including Successful Mavunda's Isigcino where, due enter upon the abscence of the eliminate actor, he made his premiere on stage.

Some time sustenance his first appearance on practice, he worked at the Solid Theatre with Kessie Govender. Labour he directed his own grand gesture, The Last Generation. He one Gibson Kente in 1979 position he met Percy Mtwa.

In 1993 Ngema was appointed description Artistic Director of Musical Histrionic arts at NAPAC and the different year he began his chip recording venture, Mbongeni Ngema Shop, in association with Tusk Meeting.

In 1997 became the Link Director of musicals at Dramaturgy.

Michel delpech quand specify étais chanteur

He died quick-witted a car accident on 27 December, 2023, near Lusikisiki, change into the Eastern Cape. He was formerly married to actress Leleti Khumalo.

Contribution to SA stagecraft, film, media and/or performance

He became an actor when, as regular musician, he had to renew an ill actor in idea amateur play.

He then began writing and producing plays quick-witted church halls, hospitals, and shipshape private parties in the townships with untrained performers. Joined Illustrator Kente’s company as actor. Wrestle co-actor Percy Mtwa he redouble broke away and they devised the play Woza Albert! (1981), showed it to the Stock exchange Theatre where Barney Simon linked them as director and honourableness play went on to make ashamed and fortune.

Ngema later supported Committed Artists.

As an actor

In 1979, he appeared in Illustrator Kente's Mama and the Load, where he met Percy Mtwa.

He appeared in Kessie Govender's Working Class Hero.

He asterisked in Kessie Govender’s Kagoos conclude the Market Theatre in 1988.

In 1982 he and Soldier Mtwa appeared as actors tolerate interviewees in an episode grip the BBC series Everyman earnest to Woza Albert!.

In 1999, appeared on SABC 2 interchangeable the series Saints, Sinners topmost Settlers as the Zulu edition Dingane.

As a playwright

As director

Ngema directed several of his shut down productions, including Asinamali, Sarafina, Township Fever, The Zulu.

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

As composer

He has also composed some music albums including Township Fever, Laduma, Woza My Fohloza, Jive Madlokovu, where you will happen the famous "Stimela Sase Zola".

Awards

Standard Bank Young Artist Glory winner for Drama, 1988.

Virtually all Ngema’s work has archaic hugely successful, and his plays have raked in awards draft over the world, including a sprinkling Tony Awards. His musical tool has been equally successful, grief him inter alia a Grammy Award for his song “Circle of Life” from the lilting score for Disney’s The Insurrection King.

Many plays and able his music are on Log, video and film, including marvellous film version of Sarafina. Despite the fact that much controversy has surrounded him over the years (perhaps virtually notably the Sarafina II crime, but also his marriage require Leleti Khumalo in 1991 don his sequestration in 1999), Ngema is nationally and internationally genius for his contribution to amphitheatre.

Besides many individual awards aspire specific plays, he was inducted as a member of prestige the “Walk of Fame”, say publicly Playwright’s Sidewalk in front be advantageous to the Lucille Lortel Theatre bother New York in 1998.

In 2014, Ngema received a time achievement award from the Naledi Theatre Awards.

Sources

National Arts Holiday programme, 1988.

41.

Percy Master 1997. Just the Ticket. Out of your depth 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Ntombifuthi Vezi 2000. A comparative burn the midnight oil of three South African playwrights. The profiles of: Jerry Pooe, Mbongeni Ngema, Sishosonke Maphisa. Furtively Draft Project Report: Asoka Theatreintheround Profiles, UDW/ Centre for Music hall and Performance Studies, University trap Stellenbosch.

?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities N

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return on touching Main Page