South African-Inspired Documentary Wins Academy Award

25 February 2013

A South African inspired-documentary 'Searching for Sugar Man' has scooped the award for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscar awards.

The film, directed by a Swedish film-maker Malik Bendjelloul, tells the story of a Detroit-based musician Sixto Rodriguez, better known as Rodriguez, who disappeared after releasing an album in the early 70s. He was rumoured to have committed suicide after the records failed to sell until his music was rediscovered in South Africa, according to Associated Press (AP).

Two of his fans from South Africa, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, decided to find the truth behind their musical hero's disappearance from the music scene. They discovered that the legendary icon was living and working as a construction worker in Michigan.

The film won against other nominees which include 5 Broken Cameras, The Gatekeepers, How to Survive a Plague and The Invisible War.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.