Msomi received his award from ACT Trustee, Themi Venturas and Gérard Robinson, Chairman of the Board of the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO).

“Welcome Msomi is an admired entrepreneur, producer and executive member of a number of entertainment giants. He has won international acclaim as a playwright, choreographer and director and his development of individuals from rural and urban areas through performing arts centres across South Africa is of lasting benefit to a new generation of talent. His work is the benchmark of quality and for that we honour him today”, said Venturas.

The ACT Lifetime Achievement Award for Theatre is sponsored by DALRO.

Having written his first book at the age of 15, Msomi has gone on to make his name in Zulu literature as well as South African theatre. He was the founder of the iZulu Dance Theatre and Music in 1965 in Durban, South Africa and in 1979 he established an extension of the Theatre in New York City.

Msomi’s significant success, the groundbreaking Umabatha, known as his Zulu Macbeth, was staged at the Aldwych in 1972 and 1973. It became an instant hit and travelled the world, presenting Shakespeare’s time-honoured tragedy with a new force, language and energy that drew critical acclaim. Msomi has written and acted in radio plays; hosted his own radio show; composed and produced songs for all his musicals under his record label in association with EMI-South Africa. Other presentations he has created and produced include: Sina; Journey Back Home; From Soweto to Selma; Bongi’s Journey. He was responsible for the Zulu version of The Lion King, which he launched for Ster Kinekor. His many works include: Mntanami Nomhlangano Mntanami, Qondeni, Charrie Ntimbane, performed in South Africa and Swaziland; Phezulu, a music and dance production for the International Youth Festival in Aberdeen, Scotland; Black And White Is Beautiful, which toured Europe; Makhoba and Thembi, a screenplay inspired by Carl Foreman.

He directed Buya Africa, a one-woman production featuring Thuli Dumakude. He also created music and movement for Tamburlaine the Great, a Royal Shakespeare Company production and was subsequently nominated for Sir Lawrence Olivier Award for choreography. He conceptualised the 1994 inauguration of the first democratically elected government as the ‘many cultures, one nation’ celebration as well as Nelson Mandela’s subsequent birthday celebrations.

In 1994, he formed a joint venture event marketing company, named Msomi Hunt Lascaris. Two years later, he co-founded and became first CEO of Sasani Limited, a global entertainment and production company with sound studios, film processing labs and camera rental companies in Johannesburg and Cape Town. He is the chairperson of Ezinkulu Productions, Welcome Msomi Communications, Msomi Comprehensive Network, Msomi Call Centres, Blue Moon Corporate Communications, Best of Both Worlds Pictures, Africa Sports Network, and Network BBDO, one of South Africa’s leading advertising agencies.

He also serves as director of Meropa Communications and he is the founder and chairperson of Ziphathe Empowerment Network, a platform to empower entrepreneurs in townships and rural communities.

Msomi was one of four South African art luminaries to be honoured with ACT Lifetime Achievement awards. The other 2012 recipients were Andrew Verster for Visual Art, Jonas Gwangwa for Music and Nadine Gordimer for Literature. His ACT Lifetime Achievement award is added to a long list of awards that is indicative of his dedication, skill and commitment to theatre in South Africa.

The 2012 ACT Awards ceremony was sponsored by the Vodacom Foundation, SAMRO (Southern African Music Rights Organisation), DALRO and Media24 Books. Supporters of the 15th ACT Awards included: Distell Foundation; Classicfeel magazine; Business and Arts South Africa (BASA); and the Fairway Hotel &amp Golf Resort.

The Arts &amp Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa's premier, independent arts and culture funding and development agency. This awards event now celebrating fifteen years, has recognised more than 350 individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to cultural life in South Africa.

For more information go to www.act.org.za.