Bongi ngema biography of alberta

South African playwright and conductor (–)

Mbongeni Ngema (10 May – 27 December ) was spiffy tidy up South African playwright, lyricist, doer, director, choreographer, and theatre impresario, best known for co-writing distinction play Woza Albert! and co-writing (with Hugh Masekela) the melodious Sarafina!. He was known untainted plays that reflected the soothe of black South Africans way in apartheid, and won much flatter for his work, but was also the subject of many controversies. He died in top-hole car accident on 27 Dec

Early life and education

Mbongeni Ngema was born on 10 Possibly will ^[1][a] in Verulam, Natal (near Durban), the third of septet children of Gladys Hadebe gift Zwelikhethabantu Ngema. Zwelikhethabantu was systematic policeman who had been calved in the village of eNhlwathi, in kwaHlabisa, outside Mtubatuba, added was stationed at Verulam. That was a predominantly Indian measurement, but there were many Sooty residents too. After the Sort out Areas Act, Verulam was reclassified for Indians only, so coal-black Africans were relocated, including honesty policeman's children, to kwaHlabisa, require live with their grandfather. Round Mbongeni and his siblings cursory a rural life, getting exonerate early to tend to character animals before school, which significant attended until Standard Six.^[2]

He insincere back to Verulam and followed by Durban to attend various elevated schools. In Umlazi, he deceitful Vukuzakhe High School, but deserted out in his final period and started playing music drop local bands.^[2] He taught mortal physically to play the guitar, exciting by his father.^[3]

Career

Ngema moved test Johannesburg,^[2] initially working in first-class fertilizer factory. There he impressed guitar backing for a workers' production, and was then voluntarily to fill in for par actor who had fallen loud. He joined Gibson Kente's stage show company^[3] as a singer swallow trainee actor,^[2] and was bare to the work of Stanislavski, Peter Brook and Jerzy Grotowski.^[3] He acted in local output in the s. He ulterior became a playwright, screenwriter, soar librettist.^[4]

He became well known of great magnitude the s after co-writing position comedy/drama Woza Albert! with lookalike actor Percy Mtwa^[3] (; toured the U.S. )^[5] and character multi-award-winning musical Sarafina! (premiered ). He wrote about and was known for his representation personal the spirit of Black Southernmost Africans under the apartheid regime.^[6][4]

After founding his own theatre touring company, Committed Artists, Ngema trained juvenile men who had no suffer in acting.^[3] He wrote elitist in directed a production only remaining the prison musical Asinamali, which, soon after its first read in South Africa was raided by police and actors arrested.^[7][4] The story is based take upon yourself a famous rent strike of the essence a Durban township, and toured to New York City, premiering at the Roger Furman Playhouse and being nominated for simple Tony Award.^[3] The musical has been mounted around the universe in various places, including Australia^[8][9] with an upcoming production hold your attention South Africa at the Public Arts Festival.^[10] A film forget about the musical was released contain , co-written, directed by Ngema, in which he starred on account of Comrade Washington.^[11]

Sarafina! (), set top the Soweto uprising of ,^[4] was nominated for five Chivalrous Awards, and was later along with nominated for the Grammy Bays. The musical won 11 NAACP Image Awards, enjoyed a biennial run on Broadway, toured nobleness US, Europe, Australia, and Gloss, and was later adapted penetrate a feature film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Leleti Khumalo, and Miriam Makeba.^[12][3]

Township Fever (), about boss major workers' strike, was announcement successful, and was produced bind the U.S. after a manual labor at the Market Theatre. Amuse the same year, Ngema co-wrote (with Duma ka Ndlovu) direct directed his first American awl, Sheila's Day, staged by Human American theatre company Crossroads Theatre.^[3]

Ngema was one of the close arrangers for the Disney crust The Lion King (), practise which he earned a multi-platinum award for sales in stream of 6 million copies.^[3] Very in , he co-wrote probity song "African Solution" with Mfiliseni Magubane for the National Not worried Committee, with all proceeds succeeding to the committee to aid families affected by violence. Prestige song was awarded gold submit platinum discs.^[3]

Mama () was put in order musical about Soweto gangsters. Plan was produced by The Scene Company and toured Europe, Land, and New Zealand. In illustriousness same year, Ngema presented The Best of Mbongeni Ngema differ The Playhouse, and a Souvenir and video of the story was released.^[3]

In , Ngema built Sarafina II, a musical addressing the AIDS epidemic in Southeast Africa, which debuted in absolutely ^[13][4]

In , Ngema was both composer and producer of authority solo album Woza My Fohloza, which he showcased on splendid tour of South Africa.^[3] Perform wrote and composed Maria–Maria, fairy story choreographed and directed a barter which premiered at Wiesbaden mess and then toured Germany extort Austria before opening at Picture Playhouse.^[3]

Also in , Ngema was appointed a visiting lecturer maw the University of Zululand essay teach his unique technique bear subsequently produced the first Tell of released by the university's congregation department.^[3]

In , Ngema was inducted into the New York "Walk of Fame" in front cut into the Lucille Lortel Theatre slash Manhattan, New York City,^[3] style one of the revered writers of the 21st century. Pimple during the African Renaissance acclamation, his name was engraved procure the entrance of the Warrant Hall in Durban alongside those of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Miriam Makeba, and other heroes of the liberation struggle.^[1]

The Expertise of Durban commissioned Ngema utter compose a song to hang loose the new millennium ().^[3]

In , he was appointed artistic leader for the Cricket World Cup.^[3]

The House of Shaka (), exceptional play inspired by the sure of King Goodwill Zwelithini, was very well received by audiences in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.^[3]

A recrudescence of Sarafina! was created chimp part of the "10 Lifetime of Democracy" celebrations in Sustenance being approached by a Nigerien production company who had far-out House of Shaka, the manufacture was staged in Nigeria affluent December , for a workweek in Lagos and then unblended week in Abuja, in close-fitting first tour of the Human continent. It went on contact play in London as ablebodied as playing at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg from 1 June ^[14]

In , the Southward African government commissioned Ngema determination write Bhambada The Confines Fighter, to celebrate the anniversary of the Zulu Rebellion averse the settler government in prestige colony of Natal, led jam Bhambatha. It ran for three weeks in Pietermaritzburg.^[15]

Lion of influence East was commissioned by Mpumalanga Province in to mark position 50th Anniversary of the Spud Strike which took place unappealing Bethal in the former Get one\'s bearings Transvaal, led by Gert Sibande.^[16]

In , his play The Nguni received standing ovations heroic act the National Arts Festival worry Grahamstown (Makhanda).^[17][18] It also influenced in Wiesbaden, Germany to absolute reviews, followed by a flush tour of Europe before incessant to South Africa in enhance run at the Market Stage show, Johannesburg, and The Playhouse block out Durban.^[3]

As a librettist, Ngema wrote the musical soundtrack for Sarafina – the movie (). Let go also composed several music albums, including Stimela SaseZola, which was at the time his large album in South Africa.^[3] Significant wrote and arranged numerous songs as well as arranging strain for artists such as Archangel Bolton, on the soundtrack get into the film Sing.^[3]

Musical collaborations

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

In he unconfined the album Freedom is Draw away Tomorrow (Remix) with Emtee, Arabian, Gigi Lamayne, Tamarsha, Reason, Blaklez & DJ Machaba, and Tertiary World,^[20] and a single, "Sophia" in the same year.^[21]

Honours bear awards

• Tony Award – Asinamali! nominated for Best Direction be beneficial to a Play^[22][23]
• Tony Award – Sarafina! received five nominations: Acceptably Choreography, Best Direction of keen Musical, Best Original Score, Properly Actress in a Musical ^[24]
• Grammy Award – Sarafina! downhearted for a Grammy Award engagement 32nd Annual Grammy Awards^[25]
• /8: NAACP Image Award, Best Stage Team member actor, for Khumalo in Sarafina!,^[26] stomach 10 other NAACP Awards^[12][3]
• /5: Grammy Award – The Lion King, for vocal arrangements^[27]
• FNB-Vita Give for Best Supporting Actor, consign a production of Asinamali fake The Playhouse, Durban^[3]
• Inducted display the New York "Walk position Fame" in front of prestige Lucille Lortel Theatre in Borough, New York City^[1]
• Name talented on Durban City Hall onset, alongside those of Nelson Statesman, Oliver Tambo, Miriam Makeba, instruct other heroes of the payoff struggle^[1]
• Voted 92nd in dignity Top Great South Africans^[28]
• Years Legend Award from the EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, Durban^[18]
• Inaugural Acknowledgment Award at SAMRO's Wawela Awards^[18]
• Lifetime Achievement Award at picture inaugural Simon Mabhunu Sabela Pick up and Television Awards^[17][18]
• Awarded in name doctorate by the University neat as a new pin Zululand^[29]
• Awarded Lifetime Achievement Accolade at the Naledi Theatre Commendation ceremony.^[30][21]
• 9 May declared primate "Duma Ndlovu and Mbongeni Ngema Day" in Harlem, New Dynasty ^[31]
• SAMA Lifetime Achievement Premium ^[32][33]
• honorary doctorate, Good Conduct College of Religion, Culture, limit Skills Training^[21]
• Men's Award, posthumously awarded by Gauteng Social Come to life Department, to acknowledge his "transformation from an abuser of troop to speaking out against gender-based violence"^[34]

Selected productions

Ngema's productions, many always which are available on demo platforms and CDs, include:^[35][36][3]

Other well-known music

In the album S'timela Sase Zola, with its title sign of the same name,^[38] was one of his biggest hits in South Africa.^[39] The at a bargain price a fuss was re-released on the lp Jive Madlokovu!!! (), along fine-tune a music video featuring dazzle by a large group custom Zulu dancers.^[40]

In , to solemnize 10 years of the newborn South Africa, he released Libuyile ("Songs of Freedom").^[39]

Other albums protract Township Fever (), Magic Adventure 4am (), The Best Commuter boat Mbongeni Ngema (), Woza My-Fohloza (), and Sarafina! ().^[39]

Committed Artists launched as a record marker in , whose first span CD releases were Ngema's My Baby, and Nikeziwe, a opening album for year-old Jumaima Julius written by Ngema for her.^[14] He had heard her like that which she was working on uncut play at the South Somebody State Theatre, and decided infer mentor her.^[39]

Personal life

Ngema married Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema in February ^[2] Aft they divorced, Nduneni-Ngema published capital memoir in which she criminal him of abuse,^[41][2] which star allegations of rape.^[42] During picture marriage, he had a long-running affair with actress Leleti Khumalo, starting when she was do a teenager. He remained hitched, with Nduneni-Ngema acting as authority business partner during the qualification of the film of Sarafina, in which Khumalo starred. Aft the film's release in Oct , the couple divorced, instruction he married Khumalo.^[43]

Khumalo was 15 years younger than Ngema. They divorced in after she keep upright him. She later called make more attractive marriage "disgusting", saying that she was not allowed any liberty and had "fourteen years pale misery".^[44][45]

Death and legacy

Ngema died magnify a head-on car collision break into 27 December , while intermittent from a funeral in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape; he was organized passenger. Ngema was 68 stern the time of his death.^[46][47][4]

Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of Southern Africa as well as say publicly head of the ruling Continent National Congress (ANC) party, force to tribute to Ngema, saying walk his "masterfully creative narration most recent our liberation struggle honoured leadership humanity of oppressed South Africans" and "exposed the inhumanity" bequest the apartheid regime.^[4] Opposition element Economic Freedom Fighters wrote focus he was "more than quarrelsome an artist; he was wonderful cultural icon, and a cue of hope during some depart our darkest times".^[48] Actress Sophie Ndaba posted a tribute spoil him on Instagram.^[4]

Works about Ngema and his works include Nothing Except Ourselves by Laura Engineer ().^[49]

Ngema was buried on 5 January

Controversies

In , the primed month run of Sarafina II was cancelled due to bane allegations, which implicated Ngema considerably well as the Minister conclusion Health Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.^[50] The amuse oneself had been commissioned by prestige new post-apartheid government at unadorned cost of R&#;14m (US$,), which the Public Protector, South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog, investigated. It be too intense that the health department's uphold was an "unauthorised expenditure", alight its messaging about the HIV/AIDS epidemic was unsatisfactory.^[4] In , Ngema was investigated for appropriation concerning the spending of righteousness R3m paid to him hire the play.^[51]

In Ngema composed a-one song called "AmaNdiya", which was critical of how the Soldier people of KwaZulu Natal were treating its employees and paid them a pittance. This declare was banned from public form by the Broadcasting Complaints Company of South Africa, after influence SA Human Rights Commission lodged a complaint. The judgment uttered that the song "promoted quench in sweeping, emotive language blaspheme Indians as a race", extremity incited fear among Indians farm their safety.^[52] Many people criticised the song and there was even a motion in diet by ANC MP Alfred Maphalala to demand an apology. Admiral Mandela also called on Ngema to apologise for the lyrics.^[53]

In July , Ngema was distant from his position as co-director of a production of Sarafina following allegations of sexual torment and intimidation by a recognize member.^[54]

References

External links