The play was first presented at the market theatre, johannesburg, south africa, in june 1987. John kani and dr mirriam makeba with the soundtrack produced by dr mbongeni ngema and quincy jones captured the imagination of the world and iconicity engraved sarafina as a symbol of african triumph and hope the world. He is known for his work on the lion king 1994, asinamali 2017 and sarafina. Ngema, an ethnic zulu, worked as a manual labourer and guitarist before he began acting in local theatre groups in. Afunani amaphoyisa e soweto music by, lyrics by mbongeni ngema.
Freedom is coming tomorrow music by mbongeni ngema. Nhlanhla ngema starred as stimela sasezola in both the original theatre production and the movie version of sarafina he has held principal roles in other mbongeni ngema productions, including magic at 4 a. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Original, musical, broadway opened in new york city jan 28, 1988 and played through jul 2, 1989. Mbongeni ngema has previously been accused of assaulting a female cast member. Whoopi goldberg, leleti khumalo, miriam makeba, john kani, dumisani dlamini, mbongeni ngema, sipho kunene, tertius meintjes, robert whitehead. An international coproduction of the united states, south. Musical sarafina comes to at the state theatre artsvark. South african teenagers fight against apartheid in the soweto uprising. Whoopi goldberg learns firsthand of the complex politics and class structure in south africa during visit to film mbongeni ngema s musical. Sarafina hitmaker mbongeni ngema working on a musical tribute.
Yes, mistress its a pity music by, lyrics by hugh masekela, mbongeni ngema. Sarafina makes true use of the term africanamerican because it is at once rooted in ancestry. The show changed my life, and the music has always touched my heart. Based on the broadway play by mbongeni ngema, this antiapartheid motion picture tells the story of sarafina leleti khumalo, a young black girl from soweto who runs up against the repressive. Feb 19, 2014 best known as the creator of the musical sarafina. Along with hugh masakela, ngema wrote sarafina, a musical drama that told the read full biography.
As part of the succession plan, dr ngema has awarded the rights to produce sarafina. Leading the struggle with nothing in your hands can bring confusion in the family i miss those days of jubilation we mama yeah conviviality leading the struggle with nothing in your hands nothing in your hands can bring confusion in the family family i miss those days of jubilation we mama yeah conviviality days of happiness days of happiness when a family sat round the fire those. Girls give helele mama hero injury isizwe johannesburg john vorster square kill lieutenant lights live lord oh lord magundane mama mbongeni ngema meeting mistress morning mother nelson. Mbongeni ngema s sarafina in the post apartheid south africa duration. The musical was conceived and directed by mbongeni ngema, who also wrote the book, music, and lyrics. The creator of sarafina, mbongeni ngema, has been waiting for the right time to finally put his vision of a nelson mandela musical on stage. Mbongeni ngema theatre credits, news, bio and photos. May 21, 2018 sarafina hitmaker mbongeni ngemas next theatre hit is a tribute to madiba 21 may 2018 06. The film was shot on location in soweto and johannesburg, south africa.
Mbongeni ngemas songs stream online music songs listen. Mbongeni ngema hugh masekela mbongeni ngemas sarafina. Even though mbongeni was married at the time, that did not stop him from pursuing leleti, with the couple later getting married in 1992. The cast gave fans a great show, many playing the film on repeat. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. South africa scandal over sarafina spotlights corruption.
He was previously married to actress leleti khumalo, who received a 1988 tony award nomination for best actress in a musical for. Class mate in highschool was friends with several members, and had the opportunity to spend some time with sarafina, crocodile, teaspoon whom i had a massive crush on and mistress. Discover book depositorys huge selection of mbongeni ngema books online. Ngema the creator of the original, highly acclaimed sarafina. Oct 26, 2016 leleti and mbongeni met on the set of sarafina. Sarafina was later converted into a hollywood feature film starring whoopie goldberg and leleti khumalo, dr mbongeni ngema, dr. Writerproducer mbongeni ngema, under the authority of quincy jones, establishes a musical whose agenda is not only to provide powerful african rhythms and chants, but to make them palatable to an audience who may otherwise disregard it as foreign.
An anthology paperback january 1, 1995 by mbongeni ngema author visit amazons mbongeni ngema page. Sep 17, 2014 playwright mbongeni ngema finds himself the subject of controversy related to hit musical sarafinathis year marks 27 years since the musical play a story about the 1970s soweto riots. Many recall the musical, which was adopted from the veteran theatre producer mbongeni ngema. Along with hugh masakela, ngema wrote sarafina, a musical drama that told the story of a day in the life of a south african tow. Mbongeni ngema playwright,composer producer,film maker, director. Sarafina hitmaker mbongeni ngemas next theatre hit is a. Mbongeni ngema and percy mtwa reprise roles in woza albert. Born in verulam, south africa, in 1955, he taught himself to play the guitar at the age of twelve. The soundtrack produced by mbongeni ngema and quincy jones captured the imagination of the world and iconicity engraved sarafina. Joburg theatre is restaging the broadway renowned award winning production of sarafina directed by nhlanhla ngema, the show will be staged to inspire and encourage young people while celebrating south africas sheroes in celebration of the women of the struggle during womens month. Mbongeni ngema stands at the apex of his international career as a composer, director, choreographer, writer and producer. He was previously married to actress leleti khumalo, who received a 1988 tony award nomination for best actress in a musical for sarafina. The titles reminiscent of one of the most phenomenal and emotional movies of the 20th century. His early promise as a performer manifest in an amateur stage production, leading him to pursue work in the theatre.
Dr mbongeni ngema giving reflections on the making of the south african musical sarafina 30 years ago. He started his career as a theatre backing guitarist. Sarafina mbongeni ngema the guide to musical theatre. Mirriam makeba with the sound track produced by dr mbongeni ngema and quincy jones captured the imagination of the world and iconicity engraved sarafina as a symbol of african triumph and hope the. Mbongeni ngema s sarafina the times, the play, the. This was in new york during a production of sarafina in the 1980s.
Kuqubuku mhleza, umzimba wonke, makuqhamuka wena lovie yini ngishawa luvalo umlenze wakho dali ubhubhuzel umoya, isinqesakho. Khumalo reprises her role from the stage performance. It was also adapted into a 1992 film starring whoopi goldberg and. Mbongeni ngema says harassment claims false, deliberately. Produced by mbongeni ngema and moses ngwenya for soul brothers productions label. Mbongeni ngema born 1 june 1956 is a south african writer, lyricist, composer, director and theatre producer, born in verulam, kwazulunatal near durban. Apr 26, 2017 dr mbongeni ngema giving reflections on the making of the south african musical sarafina 30 years ago. Sarafina books 14 the sarafina collection by jen carter and cindy carter feb 23, 2016. Sabela bass eddie mathiba lead vocals thandi zulu saxophone, soloist george lee written by mbongeni ngema. Darrell roodt directed, with the script by mbongeni ngema and william nicholson. Leleti khumalo reprised her role as sarafina, with whoopi goldberg as mary masembuko and miriam makeba as angeline. Barely four months after mbongeni ngema sexually harassed a daily maverick reporter covering a revival of his classic, woza albert, in cape town, the 64yearold playwright, director and producer has been served with a notice by johannesburg theatre management to step down as codirector of his iconic musical, sarafina, due to open on friday 19 july.
With whoopi goldberg, leleti khumalo, miriam makeba, john kani. With actor percy mtwa he wrote the satirical play woza. Mbongeni ngema celebrity profile check out the latest mbongeni ngema photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Complete your mbongeni ngema hugh masekela collection. Popularly known for sarafina, asinamali,woza albert, stimela sase zola. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. One of south africas most iconic symbols of the struggle for social and political freedom and justice. Dr mbongeni ngema has refuted allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation and squashed claims of his removal as codirector from his own production sarafina. It was also adapted into a 1992 film starring whoopi goldberg and leleti khumalo. Instead, inspired by a teacher, she becomes a revolutionary in the 1976 student uprisings in soweto. Musical arrangements by mbongeni ngema and hugh masekela. High drama preceded the opening night of the musical sarafina.
That music by mbongeni ngema composed by mbongeni and the soul brothers. Lights live lord oh lord magundane mama mbongeni ngema meeting mistress morning mother nelson. Mbongeni ngema composer visit amazons mbongeni ngema page. Mbongeni ngema dismisses singers claims about sarafina. Mbongeni ngema collaborates with barney simon and percy mtwa to create woza albert. A south african student who has survived arrest and torture in the apartheid culture is inspired by her teacher to lead her classmates in a musical celebration of the life of nelson mandela. Dec 27, 2014 from the albums the zulu 1999, and sarafina. Safa saphel isizwe lead vocals sbusiso ngema written by mbongeni ngema. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The black people had been forced to leave their homes, had to live in townships, a kind of reservation. The film was directed by darrell roodt and written by ngema and william nicholson, and stars whoopi goldberg, miriam makeba, john kani, ngema, and leleti khumalo as the title character.
Mbongeni ngemas sarafina the times, the play, the man. Ngema and hugh masekela wrote the score, which features mbaqanga, the fusion. Its title references two clear influences on the play the south african theatre classics, mbongeni ngema. Udlala ngabantu emabhunwini babo uyazigqekeza izindaba. But after 14 years of marriage, which leleti claims was abusive, she made up her mind to leave.