Poster of Sarafina!

Sarafina!

The plot centers on students involved in the Soweto Riots, in opposition to the implementation of Afrikaans as the language of instruction in schools. The stage version presents a school uprising similar to the Soweto uprising on June 16, 1976. A narrator introduces several characters among them the school girl activist Sarafina. Things get out of control when a policeman shoots several pupils in a classroom. Nevertheless, the musical ends with a cheerful farewell show of pupils leaving school, which takes most of act two. In the movie version Sarafina feels shame at her mother's (played by Miriam Makeba in the film) acceptance of her role as domestic servant in a white household in apartheid South Africa, and inspires her peers to rise up in protest, especially after her inspirational teacher, Mary Masombuka (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film version) is imprisoned.

Release Date: 1992-09-18

Original Language: en

Genres: Music Drama Family

Rating:

Popularity:

7.162

Cast Members

Whoopi Goldberg

Mary Masembuko

John Kani

School Principal

Mary Twala

Sarafina's Grandmother

Tertius Meintjes

Lieutenant Bloem

Robert Whitehead

Interrogator

Greg Latter

Policeman

Michelle Bestbier

Mrs. Hendricks

Patrick Ndlovu

Victor Gumede

James Mthoba

Sarafina's Uncle

Gideon de Wet

Policeman

Sibusiso Ngema

Funeral Leader

Xolani Dlamini

Sarafina's Brother

Siya Ngcobo

Sarafina's Brother

Louis Seboko

Joe Masombuka

Sam Ngakane

Guitar's Father

Doris Sehula

Woman Shopper

Dominic Skosana

Prison Guard

Ishmael Boikanyo

Prison Guard

Siphamandla Ngcamu

Testimonies / Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer

Mfana 'Jones' Hlope

Testimonies / Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer

Thulani Didi

Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer

Vincent Ngobese

Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer

Vukani Dlamini

Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer (as Vukani 'Marko' Dlamini)

Gugwana Dlamini

Sarafina's Friend / Dancer

Dipou Lehlongwa

Sarafina's Friend / Dancer

Khuluiwe Sithole

Sarafina's Friend / Dancer

Batho Mhlongo

Sarafina's Friend / Dancer

Billy Mashigo

Shebeen Drinker

Dixon Malele

Shebeen Drinker

Eric Seema

Shebeen Drinker

Mate Bashe

Teacher

Sbongile Dingatha

Woman Shopper

Olga Mvicane

Woman Shopper

Sindi Dlathu

Dancer (as Sindiswa Dlathu)

Stephen Evans

Police Officer (uncredited)

Dieketseng Mnisi

Dancer / Singer (uncredited)