Cont Mhlanga

Cont Mhlanga
Born	Cont Mdladla Mhlanga 1957/1958
Died	1 August 2022
Nationality	Zimbabwean
Occupation(s)	playwright, actor, and theatre director
Notable work	The 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

• The Good President
• The End
• Vikela
• Sinjalo
• Children On Fire
• Games and Bombs
• The Members

Directed

• Bamqgibela Ephila
• Omunye Umngcwabo

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

• AmaKhosi
• Voices from Zimbabwe
• Cont Mhlanga at IMDb