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.
as Sarafina
as Mary Masembuko
as School Principal
as Angelina
as Sarafina's Grandmother
as Crocodile
as Sabela
as Lieutenant Bloem
as Interrogator
as Policeman
as Soldier
as Soldier
as Mrs. Hendricks
as Victor Gumede
as Fire
as Guitar
as Stimela
as Eddie
as China
as Sarafina's Uncle
as Policeman
as Moses
as Preacher
as Funeral Leader
as Lindiwe
as Thulani
as Jabu
as Nhanhla
as Sarafina's Brother
as Sarafina's Brother
as Joe Masombuka
as Guitar's Father
as Woman Shopper
as Prison Guard
as Prison Guard
as Testimonies / Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer
as Testimonies / Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer
as Silence
as Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer
as Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer
as Crocodile's Gang Member / Dancer (as Vukani 'Marko' Dlamini)
as Sarafina's Friend / Dancer
as Sarafina's Friend / Dancer
as Sarafina's Friend / Dancer
as Sarafina's Friend / Dancer
as Shebeen Drinker
as Shebeen Drinker
as Shebeen Drinker
as Teacher
as Teacher
as Teacher
as Woman Shopper
as Woman Shopper
as Dancer (as Sindiswa Dlathu)
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Dancer
as Police Officer (uncredited)
as Dancer / Singer (uncredited)
