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Mbongeni Ngema Biography (1955-)

Name pronounced "moan-gay-nee en-gay-ma"; born in 1955 in Verulam, South Africa.

Nationality

South African

Gender

Male

Birth Details

1955

Verulam, South Africa

Famous Works

• Credits; STAGE APPEARANCES
• Appeared in Isigcino (stage debut), 1976, and in Mama and the Load.
• Credits; STAGE DIRECTOR
• Asinamali! (also see below), New Heritage Repertory Theater, New York City, 1986, then Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, CA, 1986,staged as part of Woza Afrika: A Festival of South African Theatre, Lincoln Center, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, New York City, 1986, then Jack Lawrence Theatre, New York City, 1987.
• Sarafina! (also see below), Lincoln Center Theatre, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, 1987, then Cort Theatre, New York City, 1988.
• (With Richard Gant) Sheila's Day, Crossroads Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ,1989, then Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC, 1990.
• Also director of The Last Generation.
• Recorded album, Time to Unite.
• Writings;PLAYS
• (With Percy Mtwa and Barney Simon) Woza Albert!, New York City, 1984.
• (And composer of musical score) Asinamali!, New York City, 1986, staged as part of Woza Afrika: A Festival of South African Theatre, New York City, 1986.
• (And composer, with Hugh Masekela, of musical score) Sarafina!, Lincoln Center, New York City, 1987.
• Also author of The Last Generation, and Township Fever, a musical.

Further Reference

BOOKS

• Contemporary Literary Criticism, Volume 57, Gale, 1990.

PERIODICALS

• Christian Science Monitor, February 28, 1989.