A captivating account of an interracial jazz opera that took apartheid
South Africa by storm and marked a turning point in the nation's
cultural history.
In 1959, King Kong, an interracial jazz opera, swept across South Africa
and became a countrywide phenomenon. Its performances sold out, its LP
record was widely heard, and its cast became recognized celebrities.
Featuring an African composer, cast, and orchestra but predominantly
white directors and producers, this interracial production seemed
completely distinct from any other theatrical production in the
country's history. Despite being staged over a decade after the enacting
of apartheid, the interracial collaboration met widespread acclaim that
bridged South Africa's racial, political, ethnic, and class fissures.
Widely considered a watershed moment within the history of South African
theater and music, King Kong encapsulated key currents within South
African cultural history. Author Tyler Fleming's gripping narrative
unpacks the life of the musical, from the emergence of the heavyweight
boxer "King Kong" Dlamini to the behind-the-scenes dynamics of
rehearsals to the musical's 1961 tour of Britain and the later
experience of cast members living in exile for their opposition to
apartheid. Opposing Apartheid on Stage: "King Kong" the Musical explores
the history of this jazz opera and its enduring legacy in both South
African history and global popular culture.