Lionel Ngakane (July 17, 1920 - November 26, 2003) was a South African filmmaker. Ngakane was educated at Fort Hare University College and Wits University, and worked on Drum and Zonk magazines from 1948 to 1950. In 1950 he began his career in film as an assistant director and actor in the film version of Cry, the Beloved Country, directed by Zoltan Korda. Shortly after he went into exile in the United Kingdom, returning the year of the first non-racial elections in 1994.
He is most remembered for his 1966 short film, Jemima and Johnny, inspired by riots in Notting Hill. It won awards at the Venice and Rimini film festivals. He also directed documentaries on apartheid and African development, and was later elected honorary president of the Pan-African Federation of Filmmakers.
In 1997 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Natal.
