Malangatana Ngwenya, born on June 6, 1936, was a Mozambican African contemporary painter and poet. Malangatana Ngwenya frequently exhibited work under just his first name alone, Malangatana! He died on 5th January 2011 in Matosinhos, Portugal, aged 74 years.

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Malangatana Ngwenya was one of the few African artists to gain substantial worldwide recognition while still staying in Africa. He possessed an international profile that was enhanced by an expansive personality. He had cosmopolitan taste with a vast and wide knowledge of global art. He was a born performer who composed music, sang songs in five languages and periodically broke into spontaneous dancing.