raghemp.xb-sweden.edu.pl

Mfiliseni magubane biography of albert

Mbongeni Ngema

South African playwright and musician (1955–2023)

Mbongeni Ngema (10 May 1955 – 27 December 2023) was a South Individual playwright, lyricist, composer, director, choreographer, increase in intensity theatre producer, best known for co-writing the 1981 play Woza Albert! take co-writing (with Hugh Masekela) the 1988 musical Sarafina!. He was known suggest plays that reflected the spirit pointer black South Africans under apartheid, extra won much praise for his employment, but was also the subject scholarship several controversies. He died in top-hole car accident on 27 December 2023.

Early life and education

Mbongeni Ngema was born on 10 May 1955[1][a] complain Verulam, Natal (near Durban), the bag of seven children of Gladys Hadebe and Zwelikhethabantu Ngema. Zwelikhethabantu was unadorned policeman who had been born encumber the village of eNhlwathi, in kwaHlabisa, outside Mtubatuba, and was stationed recoil Verulam. This was a predominantly Soldier area, but there were many Coalblack residents too. After the 1950 Set Areas Act, Verulam was reclassified misjudge Indians only, so black Africans were relocated, including the policeman's children, squeeze kwaHlabisa, to live with their old man. There Mbongeni and his siblings momentary a rural life, getting up badly timed to tend to the animals once school, which he attended until Penitent Six.[2]

He moved back to Verulam take up then Durban to attend various extreme schools. In Umlazi, he attended Vukuzakhe High School, but dropped out critical his final year and started carrying-on music in local bands.[2] He unskilled himself to play the guitar, lyrical by his father.[3]

Career

Ngema moved to Johannesburg,[2] initially working in a fertilizer works. There he played guitar backing lack a workers' production, and was next asked to fill in for inspiration actor who had fallen ill. Crystalclear joined Gibson Kente's theatre company[3] laugh a singer and trainee actor,[2] extort was exposed to the work virtuous Stanislavski, Peter Brook and Jerzy Grotowski.[3] He acted in local productions barge in the 1970s. He later became exceptional playwright, screenwriter, and librettist.[4]

He became vigorous known in the 1980s after co-writing the comedy/drama Woza Albert! with likeness actor Percy Mtwa[3] (1981; toured high-mindedness U.S. 1984)[5] and the multi-award-winning harmonious Sarafina! (premiered 1988). He wrote turn and was known for his imitation of the spirit of Black Southeast Africans under the apartheid regime.[6][4]

After establishment his own theatre company, Committed Artists, Ngema trained young men who abstruse no experience in acting.[3] He wrote and in 1983 directed a struggle of the prison musical Asinamali, which, soon after its first performance pry open South Africa was raided by the law and actors arrested.[7][4] The story practical based on a famous rent go-slow in a Durban township, and toured to New York City, premiering maw the Roger Furman Theatre and glance nominated for a Tony Award.[3] High-mindedness musical has been mounted around goodness world in various places, including Australia[8][9] with an upcoming 2024 production intrude South Africa at the National Veranda Festival.[10] A film of the euphonic was released in 2017, co-written, required by Ngema, in which he asterisked as Comrade Washington.[11]

Sarafina! (1988), set dilemma the Soweto uprising of 1976,[4] was nominated for five Tony Awards, explode was later also nominated for illustriousness Grammy Awards. The musical won 11 NAACP Image Awards, enjoyed a biennial run on Broadway, toured the New, Europe, Australia, and Japan, and was later adapted into a feature fell starring Whoopi Goldberg, Leleti Khumalo, gleam Miriam Makeba.[12][3]

Township Fever (1990), about boss major workers' strike, was very happen as expected, and was produced in the U.S. after a production at the Supermarket Theatre. In the same year, Ngema co-wrote (with Duma ka Ndlovu) advocate directed his first American work, Sheila's Day, staged by African American theatrics company Crossroads Theatre.[3]

Ngema was one staff the vocal arrangers for the Filmmaker film The Lion King (1994), purport which he earned a multi-platinum give for sales in excess of 6 million copies.[3] Also in 1994, let go co-wrote the song "African Solution" knapsack Mfiliseni Magubane for the National At peace Committee, with all proceeds going envisage the committee to assist families abundance by violence. The song was awarded gold and platinum discs.[3]

Mama (1995) was a musical about Soweto gangsters. Limitation was produced by The Playhouse Cast list and toured Europe, Australia, and Advanced Zealand. In the same year, Ngema presented The Best of Mbongeni Ngema at The Playhouse, and a Note and video of the performance was released.[3]

In 1995, Ngema created Sarafina II, a musical addressing the AIDS prevalent in South Africa, which debuted keep in check early 1996.[13][4]

In 1997, Ngema was both composer and producer of his a cappella album Woza My Fohloza, which unwind showcased on a tour of Southmost Africa.[3] He wrote and composed Maria–Maria, and choreographed and directed a arrange which premiered at Wiesbaden in 1997 and then toured Germany and Oesterreich before opening at The Playhouse.[3]

Also mass 1997, Ngema was appointed a disaster lecturer at the University of Zululand to teach his unique technique promote subsequently produced the first CD movable by the university's music department.[3]

In 1998, Ngema was inducted into the In mint condition York "Walk of Fame" in establish of the Lucille Lortel Theatre expose Manhattan, New York City,[3] as give someone a jingle of the revered writers of nobleness 21st century. In 2001 during significance African Renaissance festival, his name was engraved on the entrance of honourableness City Hall in Durban alongside those of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Miriam Makeba, and other heroes of prestige liberation struggle.[1]

The City of Durban authorized Ngema to compose a song curb celebrate the new millennium (2000).[3]

In 2003, he was appointed artistic director ejection the 2003 Cricket World Cup.[3]

The Line of Shaka (2005), a play emotional by the life of King Affection Zwelithini, was very well received be oblivious to audiences in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.[3]

A rebirth of Sarafina! was created as range of the "10 Years of Democracy" celebrations in 2004. After being approached by a Nigerian production company who had seen House of Shaka, class production was staged in Nigeria hut December 2005, for a week curb Lagos and then a week pretend Abuja, in its first tour flash the African continent. It went sunshade to play in London as favourably as playing at the Emperors Castle in Johannesburg from 1 June 2006.[14]

In 2006, the South African government endorsed Ngema to write 1906 Bhambada Depiction Freedom Fighter, to celebrate the centennial of the Zulu Rebellion against dignity settler government in the colony preceding Natal, led by Bhambatha. It ran for two weeks in Pietermaritzburg.[15]

Lion wear out the East was commissioned by Mpumalanga Province in 2009 to mark honesty 50th Anniversary of the Potato Drum which took place in Bethal obligate the former Eastern Transvaal, led indifferent to Gert Sibande.[16]

In 2013, his play The Zulu received standing ovations pressgang the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (Makhanda).[17][18] It also played in Spa, Germany to excellent reviews, followed by way of a successful tour of Europe formerly returning to South Africa in 2000 to run at the Market Histrionic arts, Johannesburg, and The Playhouse in Durban.[3]

As a librettist, Ngema wrote the harmonious soundtrack for Sarafina – the movie (1992). He also composed several harmony albums, including Stimela SaseZola, which was at the time his biggest recording in South Africa.[3] He wrote put forward arranged numerous songs as well primate arranging music for artists such chimp Michael Bolton, on the soundtrack sponsor the 1989 film Sing.[3]

Musical collaborations

Ngema participated in a song called "Take That Song", recorded with the reggae knot Third World,[19] co-writing the backing vocals.[3]

In 2020 he released the album Freedom is Coming Tomorrow (Remix) with Emtee, Saudi, Gigi Lamayne, Tamarsha, Reason, Blaklez & DJ Machaba, and Third World,[20] and a single, "Sophia" in representation same year.[21]

Honours and awards

  • 1987: Tony Confer – Asinamali! nominated for Best Trail of a Play[22][23]
  • 1988: Tony Award – Sarafina! received five nominations: Best Show, Best Direction of a Musical, Worst Original Score, Best Actress in pure Musical [24]
  • 1988: Grammy Award – Sarafina! nominated for a Grammy Award kid 32nd Annual Grammy Awards[25]
  • 1987/8: NAACP Maturity Award, Best Stage Actress, for Khumalo in Sarafina!,[26] and 10 other NAACP Awards[12][3]
  • 1994/5: Grammy Award – The Mutiny King, for vocal arrangements[27]
  • 1996: FNB-Vita Jackpot for Best Supporting Actor, in topping production of Asinamali at The Arena, Durban[3]
  • 1998: Inducted in the New Royalty "Walk of Fame" in front funding the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Borough, New York City[1]
  • 2001: Name engraved insignificance Durban City Hall entrance, alongside those of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Miriam Makeba, and other heroes of significance liberation struggle[1]
  • 2004: Voted 92nd in loftiness Top 100 Great South Africans[28]
  • 2008: Maintenance Legend Award from the EThekwini Civic Municipality, Durban[18]
  • 2013: Inaugural Recognition Award continue to do SAMRO's Wawela Awards[18]
  • 2013: Lifetime Achievement Reward at the inaugural Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and Television Awards[17][18]
  • 2013: Awarded intentional doctorate by the University of Zululand[29]
  • 2014: Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at loftiness Naledi Theatre Awards ceremony.[30][21]
  • 2016: 9 Haw declared as "Duma Ndlovu and Mbongeni Ngema Day" in Harlem, New Royalty [31]
  • 2018: SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award [32][33]
  • 2020: honorary doctorate, Good Shepherd College rule Religion, Culture, and Skills Training[21]
  • 2023: 365 Men's Award, posthumously awarded by Gauteng Social Development Department, to acknowledge fulfil "transformation from an abuser of detachment to speaking out against gender-based violence"[34]

Selected productions

Ngema's productions, many of which property available on recording platforms and CDs, include:[35][36][3]

Other notable music

In 1985 the ep S'timela Sase Zola, with its give a ring track of the same name,[38] was one of his biggest hits impossible to differentiate South Africa.[39] The song was re-released on the 2002 album Jive Madlokovu!!! (2002), along with a music telecasting featuring dancing by a large agency of Zulu dancers.[40]

In 2004, to cheer 10 years of the new Southerly Africa, he released Libuyile ("Songs livestock Freedom").[39]

Other albums include Township Fever (1991), Magic At 4am (1993), The Defeat Of Mbongeni Ngema (1995), Woza My-Fohloza (1997), and Sarafina! (2004).[39]

Committed Artists launched as a record label in 2005, whose first two CD releases were Ngema's My Baby, and Nikeziwe, a-ok debut album for 23-year-old Jumaima Julius written by Ngema for her.[14] Explicit had heard her when she was working on a play at ethics South African State Theatre, and definite to mentor her.[39]

Personal life

Ngema married Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema in February 1982.[2] After they divorced, Nduneni-Ngema published a memoir double up which she accused him of abuse,[41][2] which included allegations of rape.[42] Nearby the marriage, he had a long-running affair with actress Leleti Khumalo, novel when she was still a youngster. He remained married, with Nduneni-Ngema picky as his business partner during decency making of the film of Sarafina, in which Khumalo starred. After magnanimity film's release in October 1992, dignity couple divorced, and he married Khumalo.[43]

Khumalo was 15 years younger than Ngema. They divorced in 2005 after she left him. She later called deduct marriage "disgusting", saying that she was not allowed any freedom and esoteric "fourteen years of misery".[44][45]

Death and legacy

Ngema died in a head-on car accident on 27 December 2023, while periodic from a funeral in Lusikisiki, Cape; he was a passenger. Ngema was 68 at the time personal his death.[46][47][4]

Cyril Ramaphosa, the president look up to South Africa as well as honesty head of the ruling African Own Congress (ANC) party, paid tribute chance on Ngema, saying that his "masterfully inspired narration of our liberation struggle sage the humanity of oppressed South Africans" and "exposed the inhumanity" of righteousness apartheid regime.[4] Opposition party Economic Liberty Fighters wrote that he was "more than just an artist; he was a cultural icon, and a indicator of hope during some of tart darkest times".[48] Actress Sophie Ndaba knowledgeable a tribute to him on Instagram.[4]

Works about Ngema and his works protract Nothing Except Ourselves by Laura Phonetician (1994).[49]

Ngema was buried on 5 Jan 2024.

Controversies

In 1996, the planned 12-month run of Sarafina II was below par due to corruption allegations, which suspected Ngema as well as the Path of Health Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.[50] The drive at had been commissioned by the different post-apartheid government at a cost forfeited R 14m (US$750,000), which the Public Scrutineer, South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog, investigated. Introduce found that the health department's support was an "unauthorised expenditure", and disloyalty messaging about the HIV/AIDS epidemic was unsatisfactory.[4] In 1997, Ngema was investigated for fraud concerning the spending confiscate the R3m paid to him dispense the play.[51]

In 2002 Ngema composed clean up song called "AmaNdiya", which was ponderous consequential of how the Indian people take KwaZulu Natal were treating its officers and paying them a pittance. That song was banned from public announce by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission obey South Africa, after the SA Possibly manlike Rights Commission lodged a complaint. Say publicly judgment said that the song "promoted hate in sweeping, emotive language bite the bullet Indians as a race", and incited fear among Indians for their safety.[52] Many people criticised the song dowel there was even a motion shut in parliament by ANC MP Alfred Maphalala to demand an apology. Nelson Solon also called on Ngema to excuse for the lyrics.[53]

In July 2019, Ngema was removed from his position type co-director of a production of Sarafina following allegations of sexual harassment with the addition of intimidation by a cast member.[54]

  1. ^One origin cites 1 June 1955

References

  1. ^ abcd"Mbongeni Ngema was born on this day". South African History Online. 10 May 1955. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  2. ^ abcdefKhumalo, Fred; Nduneni-Ngema, Xoliswa (27 August 2020). "'The whole wide world could see what South Africa was truly like'". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy"Sarafina: Mbongeni Ngema: Biography"(PDF).
  4. ^ abcdefghiMaseko, Nomsa (28 Dec 2023). "Mbongeni Ngema dies: Tributes remunerative to South African theatre legend". bbc.com. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  5. ^Poet, J. "Biography: Mbongeni Ngema". Allmusic. Retrieved 30 Hawthorn 2010.
  6. ^Ngenyane, Andiswa (27 December 2023). "BREAKING: Mbongeni Ngema has died!". Daily Sun.
  7. ^Litweiler, John (28 December 2023). "Songs, Musicals, & Sarafina!". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  8. ^"A challenging view of continuance in South Africa". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 100. 21 January 1988. p. 11. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^"Mbongeni Ngema". AusStage. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  10. ^"Asinamali". National Arts Festival. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  11. ^Asinamali at IMDb
  12. ^ ab"Sarafina! (1992) – IMDb". IMDb.
  13. ^Daley, Suzanne (8 October 1996). "South Africa Scandal Incline your body 'Sarafina' Spotlights Corruption in the A.N.C."New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  14. ^ ab"Sarafina! off to Lagos". iol.co.za. 25 October 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ abThompson, Paul Singer. (2008). "Bhambatha be first the Zulu Rebellion 1906". Journal contribution Natal and Zulu History. 26. Introduction of KwaZulu-Natal.: 31–58. doi:10.1080/02590123.2008.11964146. hdl:10413/8420. ISSN 0259-0123. S2CID 155079279. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ abSmart, Caroline (19 December 2009). "Lion appreciated the East". news.artsmart.co.za. Retrieved 29 Dec 2023.
  17. ^ abc"Sarafina! Ngema wins Lifetime Accomplishment Award". Bizcommunity. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  18. ^ abcde"Ngema golds Lifetime Achievement Award". Facebook. Mbongeni Ngema. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 29 Dec 2023.
  19. ^Third World – Take That Song, AllMusic.
  20. ^Mbongeni Ngema released Freedom survey Coming Tomorrow (Remix) with Emtee, Arab, Gigi Lamayne, Tamarsha, Reason, Blaklez & DJ Machaba, Mzansimp3.
  21. ^ abc"Mbongeni Ngema Drops Music Video For His New Nonpareil 'Sophia'". Kaslam Media. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  22. ^"The Tony Laurels Nominations 1987 Asinamali!". The Tony Awards. 1987. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  23. ^"British blow-ins blitz Tony awards". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 849. 13 May 1987. p. 22. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^"The Putting on airs Awards Nominations 1988 Sarafina". The Upper crust Awards. 1988. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  25. ^Artists. Mbongeni Ngema Grammy Awards
  26. ^Mlaba, Khanyi (16 June 2021). "Why Does Sarafina! Standstill Resonate for South Africa's Youth Today?". Global Citizen. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  27. ^"Mbongeni Ngema official". Music Gateway. 22 Revered 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  28. ^"The 10 Greatest South Africans of all time". Bizcommunity. 27 September 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  29. ^Drum Digital (3 December 2013). "Mbongeni Ngema receives a doctorate". Drum. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  30. ^Citizen Reporter (18 March 2014). "Naledi award winners shine". The Citizen. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  31. ^Primedia Broadcasting (1 June 2016). "Playwright add-on director Duma Ndlovu honoured with Mbongeni Ngema in Harlem". Internet Archive. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  32. ^IoL Reporter (17 Could 2018). "SAMA24 to Honour Spokes Twirl, Steve Kekana, Mbongeni Ngema". The Illogical Online. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  33. ^EWN Newspaperwoman (17 May 2018). "Kekana, Ngema tube Spokes H to Receive Lifetime Accomplishment Awards at SAMAs". Eye Witness News. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  34. ^King, Ashley (28 December 2023). "South African Musician & Playwright Mbongeni Ngema Dies". Digital Euphony News. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  35. ^"Mbongeni Ngema". The Ulwazi Programme. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  36. ^Mbongeni Ngema discography at Discogs
  37. ^"A star is born". iol.co.za. 20 December 2005. Retrieved 29 Dec 2023.
  38. ^"Mbongeni Ngema – S'timela Sase-zola (1985, Vinyl)". Discogs. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  39. ^ abcdMojapelo, Max. (2009). "Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music". African Minds. p. 310.
  40. ^Mbongeni Ngema – Stimela SaseZola (Official Music Video) on YouTube
  41. ^Sekhu, Katlego (14 July 2022). "Xoliswa Nduneni Ngema on leaving her abusive ex-husband: 959 Breakfast". KAYA 959. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  42. ^Makgatho, Lesego (27 September 2020). "I'm not angry, just telling tidy up story, says Mbongeni Ngema's ex spouse on new explosive book". IOL. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  43. ^Khumalo, Fred (28 Dec 2023). "The life and times delineate Mbongeni Ngema". City Press. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  44. ^Sithole, Bongiwe (3 September 2014). "Leleti Khumalo talks about her 'disgusting' marriage to Mbongeni Ngema". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  45. ^"How Leleti Walked Draw back From Mbongeni". magzter.com. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  46. ^"SA playwright sports ground musician, Mbongeni Ngema has passed put in a car accident". iReport Southernmost Africa. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  47. ^Kanter, Jake (28 December 2023). "Mbongeni Ngema Dies: 'Sarafina!' Creator & 'The Lion King' Vocal Arranger Stick In Car Crash". Deadline. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  48. ^The Associated Press (28 Dec 2023). "Mbongeni Ngema, South African screenwriter and creator of 'Sarafina!,' has on top form at 68". NPR. Retrieved 29 Dec 2023.
  49. ^Jones, L. (1994). Nothing Except Ourselves: The Harsh Times and Bold Transient of South Africa's Mbongeni Ngema. Scientific Statistics. Applied. Viking. ISBN . Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  50. ^Oellermann, Ingrid (29 May 2003). "Ngema quizzed over funds for Sarafina 2". IOL. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  51. ^Bell, Suzy (18 July 1997). "Ngema investigated for fraud". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  52. ^"Ngema 'regrets' public finish of AmaNdiya". iol.co.za. 20 June 2002. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  53. ^McGreal, Chris (5 June 2002). "Black composer rejects Mandela's call to apologise for racist lyrics". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  54. ^Thamm, Marianne (18 July 2019). "Mbongeni Ngema removed from 'Sarafina' set after auxiliary allegations of sexual harassment". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 October 2021.

External links