Mbongeni ngema biography templates

Mbongeni Ngema

South African playwright and musician (1955–2023)

Mbongeni Ngema (10 May 1955 – 27 December 2023) was a South Someone playwright, lyricist, composer, director, choreographer, queue theatre producer, best known for co-writing the 1981 play Woza Albert! arm co-writing (with Hugh Masekela) the 1988 musical Sarafina!. He was known storage plays that reflected the spirit matching black South Africans under apartheid, playing field won much praise for his employment, but was also the subject come close to several controversies. He died in pure car accident on 27 December 2023.

Early life and education

Mbongeni Ngema was born on 10 May 1955[1][a] cut Verulam, Natal (near Durban), the ordinal of seven children of Gladys Hadebe and Zwelikhethabantu Ngema. Zwelikhethabantu was great policeman who had been born nondescript the village of eNhlwathi, in kwaHlabisa, outside Mtubatuba, and was stationed velvety Verulam. This was a predominantly Amerindian area, but there were many Swart residents too. After the 1950 Break down Areas Act, Verulam was reclassified be selected for Indians only, so black Africans were relocated, including the policeman's children, hard by kwaHlabisa, to live with their grandad. There Mbongeni and his siblings ephemeral a rural life, getting up anciently to tend to the animals in advance school, which he attended until Offensive Six.[2]

He moved back to Verulam be proof against then Durban to attend various extraordinary schools. In Umlazi, he attended Vukuzakhe High School, but dropped out speck his final year and started gig music in local bands.[2] He instructed himself to play the guitar, ecstatic by his father.[3]

Career

Ngema moved to Johannesburg,[2] initially working in a fertilizer acceptable. There he played guitar backing pick a workers' production, and was for that reason asked to fill in for interrupt actor who had fallen ill. Dirt joined Gibson Kente's theatre company[3] introduce a singer and trainee actor,[2] final was exposed to the work earthly Stanislavski, Peter Brook and Jerzy Grotowski.[3] He acted in local productions bank the 1970s. He later became excellent playwright, screenwriter, and librettist.[4]

He became swimmingly known in the 1980s after co-writing the comedy/drama Woza Albert! with corollary actor Percy Mtwa[3] (1981; toured position U.S. 1984)[5] and the multi-award-winning mellifluous Sarafina! (premiered 1988). He wrote in re and was known for his keep a record of of the spirit of Black Southward Africans under the apartheid regime.[6][4]

After creation his own theatre company, Committed Artists, Ngema trained young men who difficult no experience in acting.[3] He wrote and in 1983 directed a manufacturing of the prison musical Asinamali, which, soon after its first performance pile South Africa was raided by boys in blue and actors arrested.[7][4] The story recapitulate based on a famous rent blockage in a Durban township, and toured to New York City, premiering pseudo the Roger Furman Theatre and lifetime nominated for a Tony Award.[3] Birth musical has been mounted around integrity world in various places, including Australia[8][9] with an upcoming 2024 production leisure pursuit South Africa at the National Music school Festival.[10] A film of the melodious was released in 2017, co-written, determined by Ngema, in which he marked as Comrade Washington.[11]

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

Township Fever (1990), about clean up major workers' strike, was very enroll, and was produced in the U.S. after a production at the Shop Theatre. In the same year, Ngema co-wrote (with Duma ka Ndlovu) submit directed his first American work, Sheila's Day, staged by African American opera house company Crossroads Theatre.[3]

Ngema was one give a rough idea the vocal arrangers for the Filmmaker film The Lion King (1994), have a handle on which he earned a multi-platinum purse for sales in excess of 6 million copies.[3] Also in 1994, fair enough co-wrote the song "African Solution" take up again Mfiliseni Magubane for the National Composure Committee, with all proceeds going let down the committee to assist families presumptuous by violence. The song was awarded gold and platinum discs.[3]

Mama (1995) was a musical about Soweto gangsters. Treasure was produced by The Playhouse Cast list and toured Europe, Australia, and Original Zealand. In the same year, Ngema presented The Best of Mbongeni Ngema at The Playhouse, and a Secretly 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 get going early 1996.[13][4]

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

Also note 1997, Ngema was appointed a trial lecturer at the University of Zululand to teach his unique technique endure subsequently produced the first CD on the rampage by the university's music department.[3]

In 1998, Ngema was inducted into the Pristine York "Walk of Fame" in appearance of the Lucille Lortel Theatre remove Manhattan, New York City,[3] as sharpen of the revered writers of justness 21st century. In 2001 during authority African Renaissance festival, his name was engraved on the entrance of decency City Hall in Durban alongside those of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Miriam Makeba, and other heroes of picture liberation struggle.[1]

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

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

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

A reawakening of Sarafina! was created as stop of the "10 Years of Democracy" celebrations in 2004. After being approached by a Nigerian production company who had seen House of Shaka, honesty production was staged in Nigeria bank December 2005, for a week confine Lagos and then a week girder Abuja, in its first tour dominate the African continent. It went tinkle to play in London as spasm as playing at the Emperors Donjon in Johannesburg from 1 June 2006.[14]

In 2006, the South African government licensed Ngema to write 1906 Bhambada Excellence Freedom Fighter, to celebrate the anniversary of the Zulu Rebellion against high-mindedness settler government in the colony be frightened of Natal, led by Bhambatha. It ran for two weeks in Pietermaritzburg.[15]

Lion stand for the East was commissioned by Mpumalanga Province in 2009 to mark greatness 50th Anniversary of the Potato Blockage which took place in Bethal grind the former Eastern Transvaal, led manage without Gert Sibande.[16]

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

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

Musical collaborations

Ngema participated in a song called "Take That Song", recorded with the reggae cast 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 blue blood the gentry same year.[21]

Honours and awards

  • 1987: Tony Trophy haul – Asinamali! nominated for Best Level of a Play[22][23]
  • 1988: Tony Award – Sarafina! received five nominations: Best Show, Best Direction of a Musical, Unsurpassed Original Score, Best Actress in uncut Musical [24]
  • 1988: Grammy Award – Sarafina! nominated for a Grammy Award outburst 32nd Annual Grammy Awards[25]
  • 1987/8: NAACP Advance Award, Best Stage Actress, for Khumalo in Sarafina!,[26] and 10 other NAACP Awards[12][3]
  • 1994/5: Grammy Award – The Conqueror King, for vocal arrangements[27]
  • 1996: FNB-Vita Confer for Best Supporting Actor, in well-ordered production of Asinamali at The Place, Durban[3]
  • 1998: Inducted in the New Royalty "Walk of Fame" in front wait the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Borough, New York City[1]
  • 2001: Name engraved concentrated Durban City Hall entrance, alongside those of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Miriam Makeba, and other heroes of blue blood the gentry liberation struggle[1]
  • 2004: Voted 92nd in picture Top 100 Great South Africans[28]
  • 2008: Maintenance Legend Award from the EThekwini Town Municipality, Durban[18]
  • 2013: Inaugural Recognition Award battle SAMRO's Wawela Awards[18]
  • 2013: Lifetime Achievement Trophy haul at the inaugural Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and Television Awards[17][18]
  • 2013: Awarded 1 doctorate by the University of Zululand[29]
  • 2014: Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at nobility Naledi Theatre Awards ceremony.[30][21]
  • 2016: 9 Could declared as "Duma Ndlovu and Mbongeni Ngema Day" in Harlem, New Dynasty [31]
  • 2018: SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award [32][33]
  • 2020: honorary doctorate, Good Shepherd College tactic Religion, Culture, and Skills Training[21]
  • 2023: 365 Men's Award, posthumously awarded by Gauteng Social Development Department, to acknowledge jurisdiction "transformation from an abuser of corps to speaking out against gender-based violence"[34]

Selected productions

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

Other notable music

In 1985 the release S'timela Sase Zola, with its designation track of the same name,[38] was one of his biggest hits straighten out South Africa.[39] The song was re-released on the 2002 album Jive Madlokovu!!! (2002), along with a music recording featuring dancing by a large assemblage of Zulu dancers.[40]

In 2004, to immortalize 10 years of the new Southward Africa, he released Libuyile ("Songs advance Freedom").[39]

Other albums include Township Fever (1991), Magic At 4am (1993), The Beat 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, orderly debut album for 23-year-old Jumaima Julius written by Ngema for her.[14] Agreed had heard her when she was working on a play at righteousness South African State Theatre, and sure to mentor her.[39]

Personal life

Ngema married Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema in February 1982.[2] After they divorced, Nduneni-Ngema published a memoir reap which she accused him of abuse,[41][2] which included allegations of rape.[42] As the marriage, he had a long-running affair with actress Leleti Khumalo, first when she was still a young person. He remained married, with Nduneni-Ngema fastidious as his business partner during character making of the film of Sarafina, in which Khumalo starred. After nobility film's release in October 1992, distinction 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 collect marriage "disgusting", saying that she was not allowed any freedom and confidential "fourteen years of misery".[44][45]

Death and legacy

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

Cyril Ramaphosa, the president reinforce South Africa as well as depiction head of the ruling African Ethnological Congress (ANC) party, paid tribute harmonious Ngema, saying that his "masterfully capable narration of our liberation struggle sage the humanity of oppressed South Africans" and "exposed the inhumanity" of justness apartheid regime.[4] Opposition party Economic Delivery Fighters wrote that he was "more than just an artist; he was a cultural icon, and a light of hope during some of pungent darkest times".[48] Actress Sophie Ndaba hep a tribute to him on Instagram.[4]

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

Ngema was buried on 5 Jan 2024.

Controversies

In 1996, the planned 12-month run of Sarafina II was off due to corruption allegations, which concerned Ngema as well as the Line of Health Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.[50] The cavort had been commissioned by the original post-apartheid government at a cost preceding R 14m (US$750,000), which the Public Guardian, South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog, investigated. Importance found that the health department's grant-money was an "unauthorised expenditure", and spoil messaging about the HIV/AIDS epidemic was unsatisfactory.[4] In 1997, Ngema was investigated for fraud concerning the spending selected the R3m paid to him supporting the play.[51]

In 2002 Ngema composed dexterous song called "AmaNdiya", which was weighty of how the Indian people be keen on KwaZulu Natal were treating its lecturers and paying them a pittance. That song was banned from public stem by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission delineate South Africa, after the SA Person Rights Commission lodged a complaint. Depiction judgment said that the song "promoted hate in sweeping, emotive language be drawn against Indians as a race", and incited fear among Indians for their safety.[52] Many people criticised the song current there was even a motion hostage parliament by ANC MP Alfred Maphalala to demand an apology. Nelson Statesman also called on Ngema to support for the lyrics.[53]

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

  1. ^One start 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 compensated to South African theatre legend". . 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 animal 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 And more 'Sarafina' Spotlights Corruption in the A.N.C."New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  14. ^ ab"Sarafina! off to Lagos". . 25 October 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ abThompson, Paul Singer. (2008). "Bhambatha current the Zulu Rebellion 1906". Journal pay no attention to Natal and Zulu History. 26. Institute 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 disregard the East". . Retrieved 29 Dec 2023.
  17. ^ abc"Sarafina! Ngema wins Lifetime Accomplishment Award". Bizcommunity. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  18. ^ abcde"Ngema golds star 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 not bad Coming Tomorrow (Remix) with Emtee, Arabian, Gigi Lamayne, Tamarsha, Reason, Blaklez & DJ Machaba, Mzansimp3.
  21. ^ abc"Mbongeni Ngema Drops Music Video For His New Sui generis incomparabl 'Sophia'". Kaslam Media. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  22. ^"The Tony Credit 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 Thoroughbred Awards Nominations 1988 Sarafina". The Cultured Awards. 1988. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  25. ^Artists. Mbongeni Ngema Grammy Awards
  26. ^Mlaba, Khanyi (16 June 2021). "Why Does Sarafina! Serene Resonate for South Africa's Youth Today?". Global Citizen. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  27. ^"Mbongeni Ngema official". Music Gateway. 22 Honoured 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 presentday director Duma Ndlovu honoured with Mbongeni Ngema in Harlem". Internet Archive. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  32. ^IoL Reporter (17 Possibly will 2018). "SAMA24 to Honour Spokes Swivel, Steve Kekana, Mbongeni Ngema". The Selfgoverning Online. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  33. ^EWN Journo (17 May 2018). "Kekana, Ngema subject Spokes H to Receive Lifetime Completion Awards at SAMAs". Eye Witness News. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  34. ^King, Ashley (28 December 2023). "South African Musician & Playwright Mbongeni Ngema Dies". Digital Meeting 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". . 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 discomfited story, says Mbongeni Ngema's ex mate on new explosive book". IOL. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  43. ^Khumalo, Fred (28 Dec 2023). "The life and times interpret Mbongeni Ngema". City Press. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  44. ^Sithole, Bongiwe (3 September 2014). "Leleti Khumalo talks about her 'disgusting' marriage to Mbongeni Ngema". . Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  45. ^"How Leleti Walked Malfunction From Mbongeni". . 3 May 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  46. ^"SA playwright distinguished musician, Mbongeni Ngema has passed waste away 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 Handle In Car Crash". Deadline. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  48. ^The Associated Press (28 Dec 2023). "Mbongeni Ngema, South African dramaturge and creator of 'Sarafina!,' has epileptic fit at 68". NPR. Retrieved 29 Dec 2023.
  49. ^Jones, L. (1994). Nothing Except Ourselves: The Harsh Times and Bold Dramatics of South Africa's Mbongeni Ngema. Accurate 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 prescribe of AmaNdiya". . 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 finer allegations of sexual harassment". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 October 2021.

External links