This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67833211
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mbongeni Ngema dies: Tributes paid to South African theatre legend | Mbongeni Ngema dies: Tributes paid to South African theatre legend |
(5 months later) | |
Mbongeni Ngema's works reflected the "spirit of resistance" against white-minority rule, his family said | Mbongeni Ngema's works reflected the "spirit of resistance" against white-minority rule, his family said |
Mbongeni Ngema's works reflected the "spirit of resistance" against white-minority rule, his family said | |
Tributes are being paid to the South African playwright Mbongeni Ngema after he died in a car crash aged 68. | Tributes are being paid to the South African playwright Mbongeni Ngema after he died in a car crash aged 68. |
He rose to international prominence in the 1980s with plays that depicted the lives of black people under the racist system of apartheid. | He rose to international prominence in the 1980s with plays that depicted the lives of black people under the racist system of apartheid. |
His works "reflected the spirit of resistance" during white minority rule, his family said. | His works "reflected the spirit of resistance" during white minority rule, his family said. |
Ngema was best-known for his musical Sarafina!, which was later adapted into a film starring Whoopi Goldberg. | Ngema was best-known for his musical Sarafina!, which was later adapted into a film starring Whoopi Goldberg. |
President Cyril Ramaphosa led tributes to the playwright, composer and theatrical director. | President Cyril Ramaphosa led tributes to the playwright, composer and theatrical director. |
Ngema's "masterfully creative narration of our liberation struggle honoured the humanity of oppressed South Africans" and "exposed the inhumanity" of the apartheid regime, the South African leader said. | Ngema's "masterfully creative narration of our liberation struggle honoured the humanity of oppressed South Africans" and "exposed the inhumanity" of the apartheid regime, the South African leader said. |
He died in a head-on collision on Wednesday evening while returning from a funeral in the town of Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape province. | He died in a head-on collision on Wednesday evening while returning from a funeral in the town of Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape province. |
More than 700 people have been killed in car accidents in South Africa since the beginning of December. | More than 700 people have been killed in car accidents in South Africa since the beginning of December. |
Born in 1955, Ngema began his career as a backing guitarist before taking to the stage in local theatre productions in the 1970s,. | Born in 1955, Ngema began his career as a backing guitarist before taking to the stage in local theatre productions in the 1970s,. |
He went on to co-write the 1981 play Woza Albert! (meaning Rise Up Albert! in Zulu), which imagines the second coming of Jesus Christ during the apartheid era. | He went on to co-write the 1981 play Woza Albert! (meaning Rise Up Albert! in Zulu), which imagines the second coming of Jesus Christ during the apartheid era. |
The satirical work became the benchmark of South African protest theatre at home and on the stages of London and New York. | The satirical work became the benchmark of South African protest theatre at home and on the stages of London and New York. |
He followed up with the musical Asinimali! (Zulu for We don't have money!), which showed off his exceptional technical abilities as a producer. | He followed up with the musical Asinimali! (Zulu for We don't have money!), which showed off his exceptional technical abilities as a producer. |
And then came his 1987 triumph Sarafina!, set during the Soweto Uprising, external and carrying to audiences worldwide the revolutionary ardour of South Africa's youth. It was adapted into a blockbuster movie in 1992. | |
South African actress Sophie Ndaba said that Ngema would be remembered for generations to come. | South African actress Sophie Ndaba said that Ngema would be remembered for generations to come. |
"Thank you for inspiring us with your creative work and music," she said in a her tribute posted on Instagram, external. | |
Some of Ngema's plays after apartheid, which ended in 1994, courted controversy. | Some of Ngema's plays after apartheid, which ended in 1994, courted controversy. |
He produced Sarafina 2 in 1995 to raise awareness about the scourge of HIV/Aids, which had largely been ignored during apartheid. | He produced Sarafina 2 in 1995 to raise awareness about the scourge of HIV/Aids, which had largely been ignored during apartheid. |
It was commissioned by the new government at a cost of 14m rand ($750,000; £590,000) - an amount seen as exorbitant and which triggered an investigation by South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog, the public protector. | It was commissioned by the new government at a cost of 14m rand ($750,000; £590,000) - an amount seen as exorbitant and which triggered an investigation by South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog, the public protector. |
The probe found that the health department's funding for the play was an "unauthorised expenditure" and its message about HIV/Aids was inadequate. | The probe found that the health department's funding for the play was an "unauthorised expenditure" and its message about HIV/Aids was inadequate. |
Ngema also found himself at the centre of controversy in 2002 with his song AmaNdiya (meaning Indians in Zulu), which accused South Africa's Indian community of racism and exploitation. | Ngema also found himself at the centre of controversy in 2002 with his song AmaNdiya (meaning Indians in Zulu), which accused South Africa's Indian community of racism and exploitation. |
It was banned from the airwaves by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, which said that it incited hatred. | It was banned from the airwaves by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, which said that it incited hatred. |
Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who served as South Africa's first democratically elected president from 1994-1999, urged Ngema to apologise. | Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who served as South Africa's first democratically elected president from 1994-1999, urged Ngema to apologise. |
"I think he can do nothing better than to apologise if he has offended anyone with racist lyrics," Mr Mandela said at the time. | "I think he can do nothing better than to apologise if he has offended anyone with racist lyrics," Mr Mandela said at the time. |
Ngema refused and decried the ban, telling the BBC that no authority should direct what an artist can write about, external. | |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
South Africa | South Africa |
Previous version
1
Next version