Woza Albert!

play by Ngema and Mtwa

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Woza Albert! is a political satire play, first performed in 1980, by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon. The play ingeniously imagines the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in the context of apartheid-era South Africa. It uses humor and sharp commentary to critique the oppressive system of apartheid. The play's creators were connected to the vibrant theatre scene in Johannesburg, particularly through the Market Theatre. Ngema, one of the co-authors, went on to become a leading playwright with works like Asinamali! and Sarafina. The play is a significant example of the powerful alternative theatre that emerged in South Africa to articulate the struggle against apartheid.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Mbongeni Ngema
…he wrote the satirical play Woza Albert! (1981), which imagines that the second coming of Jesus Christ takes place in South Africa. The government first tries to exploit him and then banishes him to a notorious prison for blacks. Ngema’s next show, the musical Asinamali! (1983), deals with police violence,…
Read More
…he wrote the satirical play Woza Albert! (1981), which imagines that the second coming of Jesus Christ takes place in South Africa. The government first tries to exploit him and then banishes him to a notorious prison for blacks. Ngema’s next show, the musical Asinamali! (1983), deals with police violence,…
Read More