Comrade Washington (Mbongeni Ngema), enters the troubled Durban Central Prison to work with convicts in creating a musical play. Interwoven stories emerge all the way from the Lamontville rent strikes of 1983, with the forces of resistance being represented by the singer, Soweto (Danica de la Rey). They cling together to face the cruel wrath of the prison authorities as the play comes together, culminating in a performance for a stunned audience of their oppressors. The inmates tell their stories, claim their history, and dance back their identity.

A film by Mbongeni NGEMA

South Africa, 2017, feature drama, Zulu / English

starring Mbongeni Ngema, Danica de la Rey

First Film

Producers: Mbongeni NGEMA, Darrell Roodt, Christianne Bennetto

Director: Mbongeni NGEMA
Writer: Mbongeni Ngema
based on his seminal WORK of the same name.
Original soundtrack: Mbongeni Ngema


2017 | Durban Film Festival, South Africa
* Selection - Competition Feature Film
* Selection - South African
* Première Mondiale / World Premiere
www.durbanfilmfest.co.za/index.php/film/item/3312-asinamali