Mbongeni Ngema, South African creator of 'Sarafina' musical dies in car crash

South African playwright, producer, and composer Mbongeni Ngema died in a fatal car accident at the age of 68, as confirmed by his family.

Ngema was widely recognized for his creation of the renowned play Sarafina!, which made its debut on Broadway in 1988.

This powerful production was later adapted into a musical drama featuring Whoopi Goldberg in 1992, achieving immense international acclaim and receiving nominations for both the Tony and Grammy Awards.

Sarafina!

depicted the inspiring journey of a young student who rallied her peers to combat racial segregation during the era of apartheid in South Africa, following the imprisonment of their teacher.

Apartheid, a deeply entrenched system of discrimination against non-whites, ensured that South Africa was governed by the minority white population from 1948 until the early 1990s.

Ngema’s artistic repertoire also included the highly acclaimed theater production Woza Albert, which premiered in 1981 and garnered over 20 prestigious awards worldwide.

This politically charged satire delved into the concept of the second coming of Jesus Christ as a black man, returning to South Africa.

Heartfelt tributes continue to pour in for the esteemed playwright, honoring his immense contributions to the world of theater and his profound impact on society.

“Ngema was killed in a head-on car accident while returning from a funeral he was attending in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape this evening,” his family said in a statement Wednesday.

The celebrated playwright was a passenger in the vehicle involved in the crash.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the late Ngema in a statement.

“The many productions he created or to which he contributed inspired resilience and pride among us as fellow South Africans and took South Africa and our continent into the theatres, homes and consciousness of millions of people around the world,” Ramaphosa said Thursday.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party and one of its biggest rivals, the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters both conveyed their condolences.

The ANC said in a statement: “He was a globally acclaimed playwright, composer and producer.