While the award-winning musical Sarafina! has played a pivotal role in remembering Youth Day, it also launched the careers of local talents who up to this day are making strides in the industry.
Sarafina! the musical, by veteran theatre producer Mbongeni Ngema, was adapted into a film in 1992 – starring Academy award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg. The film depicts the events of a student uprising which are reminiscent of the June 16 Soweto uprising of 1976.
This year marks 40 years since the uprising, and in celebration of Youth Day and the iconic movie, we’ve compiled a list of some of Sarafina!’s original cast who are still making waves.
Leleti Khumalo
THE star of Sarafina!, Leleti Khumalo played the role of the young Sarafina in the hit musical. Khumalo was nicknamed after her role in the movie for most of her career. She has since travelled all over the world, gracing many theatre stages, has acted on the SABC 1 soapie Generations, and of late she plays a lead character in the drama series Uzalo.
Somizi
Somizi Mhlongo aka Somgaga has become a media darling of note. The reality TV star has made some serious strides since his role in Sarafina!. He played the character of a leader in the student uprising. After leaving his imprint on choreography, singing as well as acting, he is now a judge onIdols and the star of his reality TV show Living The Dream With Somizi.
Khanyo Maphumulo
The gorgeous Khanyo Maphumulo played the role of the young schoolgirl who led in many of the songs on Sarafina! – most notably the much-loved “Lord’s Prayer”. The songstress and recording artist is still reaching for the high notes on various stages and in many productions.
Dumisani Dlamini
Actor Dumisani Dlamini played the infamous character Crocodile in Sarafina!. The talent went to to star in award-winning drama series Yizo Yizo as the gangster Chester, and is now on Mzansi Magic’s Isibaya.
There will be free screenings of the Sarafina! at various Ster-Kinekor cinemas across the country to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Soweto uprising of 1976. Tickets are available on a first come first served basis, and are only available at the participating cinemas from 9.30am on June 16.
Sarafina! will also be broadcasted on e.tv. at 8.30pm on June 16.
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“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself and in no instance bypass the discriminations of reason? You have been given the principles that you ought to endorse, and you have endorsed them. What kind of teacher, then, are you still waiting for in order to refer your self-improvement to him? You are no longer a boy, but a full-grown man. If you are careless and lazy now and keep putting things off and always deferring the day after which you will attend to yourself, you will not notice that you are making no progress, but you will live and die as someone quite ordinary.
From now on, then, resolve to live as a grown-up who is making progress, and make whatever you think best a law that you never set aside. And whenever you encounter anything that is difficult or pleasurable, or highly or lowly regarded, remember that the contest is now: you are at the Olympic Games, you cannot wait any longer, and that your progress is wrecked or preserved by a single day and a single event. That is how Socrates fulfilled himself by attending to nothing except reason in everything he encountered. And you, although you are not yet a Socrates, should live as someone who at least wants to be a Socrates.”
― Epictetus
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