Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Come Back, Africa

  • 19591959
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
334
YOUR RATING
Come Back, Africa (1959)
  • Documentary
  • Drama
Come Back, Africa chronicles the life of Zachariah, a black South African living under the rule of the harsh apartheid government in 1959.Come Back, Africa chronicles the life of Zachariah, a black South African living under the rule of the harsh apartheid government in 1959.Come Back, Africa chronicles the life of Zachariah, a black South African living under the rule of the harsh apartheid government in 1959.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
334
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lionel Rogosin
  • Writers
    • Bloke Modisane
    • Lewis Nkosi
    • Lionel Rogosin
  • Stars
    • Zacharia Mgabi
    • Vinah Bendile
    • Miriam Makeba
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lionel Rogosin
  • Writers
    • Bloke Modisane
    • Lewis Nkosi
    • Lionel Rogosin
  • Stars
    • Zacharia Mgabi
    • Vinah Bendile
    • Miriam Makeba
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos

    Vinah Bendile in Come Back, Africa (1959)
    Miriam Makeba in Come Back, Africa (1959)
    Lionel Rogosin and Zacharia Mgabi in Come Back, Africa (1959)
    Come Back, Africa (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Zacharia Mgabi
    • Zachariahas Zachariah
    Vinah Bendile
    Vinah Bendile
    • Vinahas Vinah
    Miriam Makeba
    Miriam Makeba
    • Miriamas Miriam
    Lewis Nkosi
    • Lewisas Lewis
    Bloke Modisane
    Bloke Modisane
    • Blokeas Bloke
    Can Themba
    • Canas Can
    Myrtle Berman
    • Myrtleas Myrtle
    George Malebye
    • Georgeas George
    Morris Hugh
    • Morrisas Morris
    Rams
    • Ramsas Rams
    Hazel Futa
    Hazel Futa
    • Hazelas Hazel
    Martha
    • Auntyas Aunty
    Lulu Masilela
    • Penny Whistleras Penny Whistler
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lionel Rogosin
    • Writers
      • Bloke Modisane
      • Lewis Nkosi
      • Lionel Rogosin
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    On the Bowery
    7.4
    On the Bowery
    Black Roots
    7.1
    Black Roots
    No Regret
    7.2
    No Regret
    Good Times, Wonderful Times
    7.0
    Good Times, Wonderful Times
    Black Girl
    7.4
    Black Girl
    Black Fantasy
    Ornette: Made in America
    7.0
    Ornette: Made in America
    Out
    7.0
    Out
    Home
    6.9
    Home
    The Connection
    7.0
    The Connection
    Woodcutters of the Deep South
    Shooting Dogs
    7.6
    Shooting Dogs

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The South African musician Lulu Masilela (Gumboots from Paul Simon's Graceland album) claims that he was the young penny whistler (seen in center of the poster) in Come Back, Africa. The group performing here was actually a combination of two separate groups, both of whom Lulu was playing with at the time, the Meyerton Bright Boys and the Snaketown Shambas.
    • Connections
      Featured in In Darkest Hollywood: Cinema and Apartheid (1993)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    One of my all-time favorites
    This film on apartheid in South Africa established Lionel Rogosin as master of cinema verite. The use of actual settings and non-professional actors in telling a story set a tone of reality far beyond any movies of the time. The images are still haunting five decades later.
    helpful•8
    4
    • griess
    • Aug 21, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 1960 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Afrikaans
    • Also known as
      • Come back Africa
    • Filming locations
      • Johannesburg, South Africa
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Come Back, Africa (1959)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Come Back, Africa (1959) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.