CHANG: John Kani is a legend in South Africa, and while he has taken roles in Hollywood movies, his theater work is known for exploring how the brutality of apartheid affected everyday people.

John Kani in Kunene and the King at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Image: Teresa Castracane Photography/ John Kani risked his life to tell stories of apartheid — at 81, he's still at it ...

Edward Gero and John Kani in Kunene and the King at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. At age 81, Kani continues to write about the lingering effects of apartheid.

John Kani is pictured at South Africa's premiere of Disney's Mufasa, the Lion King in Johannesburg, in December 2024.

John Kani is pictured at South Africa's premiere of Disney's Mufasa, the Lion King in Johannesburg, in December 2024.