Sarafina! Creator Mbongeni Ngema Dies in Car Accident

Mbongeni Ngema, the acclaimed South African playwright behind the iconic musical Sarafina! has passed away at 68. He was a passenger in a car involved in a head-on collision.

Ngema wrote and directed the iconic musical Sarafina!, a powerful portrayal of the Soweto uprising and the struggles of young black students during apartheid. The play was later adapted into a 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo, garnering international acclaim.

His family, colleagues, and fans are devastated by his sudden passing. "He was a beloved brother, father, husband, and patriot," the family said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on AllAfrica

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