Mbongeni Ngema facts for kids

Mbongeni Ngema (born 10 May 1955 – died 27 December 2023) was a talented South African artist. He was a writer, composer, director, and theatre producer. He was born in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, near Durban.

Ngema started his career playing guitar for theatre shows. He became famous for creating the musical Sarafina!. He also co-wrote another popular show called Woza Albert!. His plays often showed what life was like for black South Africans during apartheid. Apartheid was a system of unfair rules that separated people by race.

He was married to actress Leleti Khumalo. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in Sarafina!. She also starred in the movie version of Sarafina! and in the film Yesterday.

Mbongeni Ngema's Early Life

Mbongeni Ngema was born in Verulam. He grew up in the heart of Zululand, in a place called Nhlwathi. This area is in Hlabisa. He became a well-known writer for plays and movies.

Ngema was proud of his family's history. His ancestors, Mbandama and Sigcwelegcwele kaMhlekehleke, were brave warriors. They led a group called the Ingoba Makhosi regiment. This group helped defeat the British army at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879. This battle was part of the Anglo-Zulu war.

Mbongeni Ngema's Creative Career

Mbongeni Ngema is best known for his musical Sarafina!. This show won many awards around the world. It was nominated for five Tony Awards and a Grammy Award. Sarafina! won 11 NAACP Image Awards. It played on Broadway for two years and toured many countries. Later, it was made into a movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo.

Famous Plays and Musicals

Ngema created many successful shows. These include:

• Woza Albert (which also won awards)
• Township Fever (1990)
• Mama (1995)
• Asinamali (1996)
• Maria Maria (1997)
• The Zulu – the musical (1999)
• 1906 Bhambada The Freedom Fighter
• The House of Shaka (2005)
• The Lion of the East (2006)

In 1995, Ngema created Sarafina II. This musical talked about the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. It first opened in 1996.

Teaching and Recognition

In 1997, Ngema became a visiting lecturer at the University of Zululand. He taught his special artistic style there. He also helped produce the first CD released by the university's music department.

In 1998, Ngema was honored in New York City. His name was added to the "Walk of Fame" outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre. This recognized him as an important writer of the 21st century. In 2001, his name was carved at the entrance of Durban's City Hall. It was placed alongside heroes like Nelson Mandela and Miriam Makeba.

Music and Film Work

Ngema wrote the music for the movie Sarafina - the movie (1992). He also produced the movie's soundtrack with Quincy Jones. He created several music albums, including the popular Stimela SaseZola.

He wrote and arranged many songs for other artists, like Michael Bolton. He was also one of the vocal arrangers for Disney's animated film The Lion King. For this work, he received a multi-platinum award for selling over 6 million copies. He later won a Grammy Award for the movie adaptation.

Special Projects

In 2003, Ngema was chosen as the artistic director for the 2003 Cricket World Cup. In 2004, he helped organize the celebrations for South Africa's ten years of democracy. He also helped set up and manage a recording studio called The KZN Music House.

Many books and studies have been written about Mbongeni Ngema and his works. These include Nothing Except Ourselves by Laura Jones and The Best of Mbongeni Ngema, The man and his music by Isabel Cooke.

Ngema used his childhood experiences of traditional storytelling to create his one-man show, The Zulu. This show combines his memories of growing up in Zululand with the rich history of the Zulu nation. The Zulu has toured South Africa and is planned to tour internationally.

Collaborations and Songs

Mbongeni Ngema worked with the reggae band Third World on a song called "Take This Song". He also released a remix of "Freedom is Coming Tomorrow" with other artists like Emtee, Saudi, and Gigi Lamayne.

Mbongeni Ngema's Productions

Here are some of the plays and musicals Mbongeni Ngema created:

• Asinamali (1987)
• Sarafina! (1988)
• Magic at 4 AM (1993)
• Circle of Life (African voices) (1995)
• Mama (1996)
• Sarafina! 2 (1997)
• Nikeziwe (2005)
• The House of Shaka (2006)
• Lion of the East (2009)
• Take This Song (with Third World)
• The Zulu (2013)

Awards and Honors for Mbongeni Ngema

Mbongeni Ngema received many awards and honors throughout his career:

• 1987: Asinamali! was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play.
• 1988: Sarafina! received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Choreography and Best Musical.
• 1988: Sarafina! was nominated for a Grammy Award.
• 1988: Sarafina! won 11 NAACP Image Awards.
• Grammy Award: For his vocal arrangements in The Lion King animated film.
• 1998: Inducted into the New York "Walk of Fame".
• 2001: His name was engraved on City Hall Entrance in Durban.
• 2004: Voted 92nd in the Top 100 Great South Africans.
• 2008: Received the Living Legend Award from the eThekwini Municipality.
• 2013: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and Television Awards.
• 2013: Received an Inaugural Recognition Award at SAMRO's Wawela Awards.
• 2013: Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Zululand.
• 2014: Awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Naledi Theatre Awards.
• 2018: Received a SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award.