Culture activist Cont Mdladla Mhlanga has died.
He was 64.
The playwright, who inspired a generation of performing artists, was hospitalised in Bulawayo on July 22 with an undisclosed ailment
In a statement announcing his death, the National Arts Council said: “Whilst his situation seemed to stabilise, it took a different turn in the last three days
Cont passed on this morning.”
Mhlanga, who had retired to focus on farming at his rural home in Lupane, founded Amakhosi Cultural Centre in 1982 as a youth karate club in Makokoba suburb.
In 1988, he changed Amakhosi’s thrust to performing arts.
Mhlanga wrote more than 20 plays, among them The Good President, The End, Sinjalo, Amakorokoza, Children on Fire, Games and Bombs, The Members and Vikela.
He also adapted the popular play Stitsha into a TV series and directed Bamgqibela Ephila and Omunye Umngcwabo.
The Good President was banned in Zimbabwe, although it was presented as a fictional account. Its depiction of an African dictator who has ruled his country since 1980 closely mirrored events in Zimbabwe under longtime ruler, the late Robert Mugabe
Mhlanga starred as Mtutureli Niekwu in an anti-apartheid movie A World Apart, which was released in 1988.
In 2006, he was arrested and briefly detained accused of trying to topple the government through his critical plays.
The Good President won Mhlanga an Art Venture Freedom to Create award
In 2015, Mhlanga and Amakhosi Cultural Centre were awarded the Prince Claus award, which is named after Prince Claus of the Netherlands.
The accolade was for outstanding achievements in the field of culture and development.
