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.
- Tagline
- “She was their teacher. They were her hope.”
- Release Status
- Released
- Genres
- Music, Drama, Family
- Director
- Darrell James Roodt
- Original Language
- EN
Leleti KhumaloSarafina
Whoopi GoldbergMary Masembuko
John KaniSchool Principal
Miriam MakebaAngelina
Mary TwalaSarafina's Grandmother
Dumisani DlaminiCrocodile
Mbongeni NgemaSabela
Tertius MeintjesLieutenant Bloem
Robert WhiteheadInterrogator
Greg LatterPoliceman- What is Sarafina! about?
- 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.
- Who directed Sarafina!?
- Sarafina! was directed by Darrell James Roodt.
- When was Sarafina! released?
- Sarafina! was released on September 18, 1992.
- How long is Sarafina!?
- Sarafina! has a runtime of 1h 57m.
- Where can I track Sarafina!?
- You can track Sarafina! on Matinee — the free movie and TV show tracker app for iOS. Log it, rate it, and share your thoughts with friends.












