Cont Mhlanga
Born
Cont Mdladla Mhlanga

1957/1958
Died1 August 2022
NationalityZimbabwean
Occupation(s)playwright, actor, and theatre director
Notable workThe Good President

Cont Mdladla Mhlanga (1957/1958 – 1 August 2022)[1] was a Zimbabwean playwright, actor, and theatre director.[2] He was also the founder and head of the Amakhosi Theatre Productions company, formed in 1982.[3][4]

Mhlanga was a critic of the government of Robert Mugabe, and was arrested often for public expressions of his views. He, alongside Burmese satirist Zarganar and City of Rhyme – a 14-strong hip-hop group from northern Brazil, whose lyrics condemn violence[5] – were winners of the inaugural Freedom to Create Prize in 2008.[6][7]

Works

Written

Directed

References

  1. ^ "Renowned culture activist and playwright Cont Mhlanga dies". Zimbabwe News Now. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. ^ Riemenschneider, Dieter; Frank Schulze-Engler (1993). African literatures in the eighties. Rodopi. p. 113. ISBN 9051835183.
  3. ^ Rubin, Don (1997). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Africa. Taylor & Francis. p. 365. ISBN 0415059313.
  4. ^ Smith, David (12 May 2009). "Letter from Africa: 'When you tell a joke in the street, that is political'". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Shine-A-Light – City of Rhyme". Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  6. ^ Iqbal, Nosheen (27 November 2008). "Mhlanga and Zarganar win arts awards for human rights". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  7. ^ "Zimbabwe writer Mhalanga honoured". BBC News. 26 November 2008.

External links


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