The ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela , Winnie Mandela , will have an opera about her life ,its been announced , the lyrics will be in English and Xhosa . The opera’s 60 piece orchestra will play both western and African music . This presentation is believed to be the first opera to have been fully composed and orchestrated in the country and is due to premiere in Pretoria at the State Theater next year in April. In January they plan to announce the names of the cast . A former opera about her life called ,The Passion of Winnie , was presented in Toronto ,Canada three years ago.but she was unable to attend the premiere because her visa application was denied.
The South African born composer and musician Bongani Ndodana Breen and filmmaker Warren Wilensky will again work together on this new production. The BBC screened a dramatization of her life ,earlier this year ,with the main role going to Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo.
Another film due to be released this year stars the Hollywood actress Jennifer Hudson . Winnie Mandikizela Mandela was noticed by the media in 1992 when her then husband Nelson was sentenced to life in prison . In 1969 she was arrested for printing and distributing anti apartheid literature and in 2003 charges of fraud and theft were charged against her and she was found guilty . Nelson and Winnie divorced in 1996 amidst stories of her infidelity , she had been separated from her husband since 1992 .
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