Mbongeni Ngema, the South African creator of the Whoopi Goldberg film Sarafina!, has died in a car accident. He was 68 years old.
The playwright’s family issued a statement confirming his death. In it, they revealed that he died in a head-on collision while returning home from a funeral he attended in Lusikisiki, South Africa. He was a passenger in the vehicle.
Ngema is best known for his work in the musical. Serafina!, which premiered on Broadway in 1988. It tells the story of a student’s fight against racial segregation in apartheid South Africa following the imprisonment of her teacher. Whoopi Goldberg’s production, an adaptation of the original musical, premiered in 1992.
‘Serafina!’ Producer pays tribute to Mbongeni Ngema
Mbongeni Ngema’s career went much further Serafina!. The playwright began his career as a backing guitarist in the theater. He later became a celebrated writer, lyricist, composer, director, choreographer and theater producer. His other major credits include vocal arrangements on The Lion King.
“We have lost a pioneering creative talent who fearlessly brought awareness of South Africa under apartheid to a global audience using theater as a platform.” Sarafina! producer Anant Singh said in a statement.
Praising Serafina! as a “timeless” film, Singh continued. “He has left an indelible mark on South African theater and the creative industries as a whole.”
“Mbongeni was an inspiration and mentored many young artists who are now household names. His death leaves a deep void but leaves a rich legacy that will last for posterity.”
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, also spoke. “I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends and associates of our cultural stalwart, Mbongeni Ngema, who lost his life in a car accident,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“His masterfully creative telling of our liberation struggle honored the humanity of oppressed South Africans and exposed the inhumanity of an oppressive regime.”
“The many productions he created or contributed to inspired resilience and pride among us as fellow South Africans and brought South Africa and our continent into the theatres, homes and consciousness of millions of people around the world. May his soul rest in peace.”
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn