Plot Summary

Sizwe Banzi Is Dead

Athol Fugard
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Sizwe Banzi Is Dead

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1972

Book Brief

Athol Fugard

Sizwe Banzi Is Dead

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1972
Book Details
Pages

79

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Port Elizabeth, South Africa • 1970s

Publication Year

1972

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Sizwe Banzi Is Dead, by Athol Fugard in collaboration with John Kani and Winston Ntshona, revolves around Sizwe Banzi, a black man in apartheid-era South Africa, who adopts the identity of a dead man, Robert Zwelinzima, to avoid deportation and to secure employment. The play begins and ends in a photography studio, and through Sizwe's interactions, it highlights the harsh realities and dehumanizing effects of apartheid. The narrative explores themes of identity and survival in a racially segregated society.

Gritty

Contemplative

Mysterious

Challenging

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.0

86 ratings

67%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Sizwe Banzi Is Dead by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona is praised for its powerful acting, gripping narrative, and poignant commentary on apartheid-era South Africa. Critics appreciate its mix of humor and tragedy. However, some feel its pacing can lag and the plot can seem thin. Overall, it's lauded for its emotional depth and socio-political impact.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Sizwe Banzi Is Dead?

Readers who appreciate powerful social commentary and theater would enjoy Sizwe Banzi Is Dead by Athol Fugard. Fans of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett will find similar themes of identity, struggle, and existential reflection in this compelling play.

4.0

86 ratings

67%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

79

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Port Elizabeth, South Africa • 1970s

Publication Year

1972

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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