Groundbreaking “jazz opera” King Kong launched the careers of a few of the artists who are now considered to be some of South Africa’s biggest musicians of all time, including Hugh Masekela, singers Miriam Makeba and Letta Mbulu, and composers Todd Matshikiza and Caiphus Semenya. From 1959 it toured all of South Africa’s biggest cities — Nelson Mandela attended the opening night and it is said that this was his favorite musical — and in 1961 moved to London’s West End, where it played for about a year. The story focuses on a renowned heavyweight boxer known as “King Kong” and his struggles with alcoholism and gang violence — widespread problems in the townships. Though the musical was a thinly disguised indictment against apartheid, abroad it was criticized for not being outspoken enough, although a more overt attack would have definitely been censored back in South Africa.