Synopsis
The story of Sarafina! follows the activities of a group of students at Morris Isaacson High School in the black township of Soweto.

One student named Colgate acts as narrator and explains that his school is popular because of its reputation for political activism. Colgate also gives the who’s who in his school today: Teaspoon (the school gossip), Stimela Sasezola (the school trendsetter) and their teacher, Mistress (so named because she uses that phrase at random, for any and all occasions). And then one girl-Sarafina-whom the whole school loves for a number of reasons.

Sarafina has been put in jail for stirring up trouble. Two months later, when she returns to school, Sarafina shows them the scars from prison and she insists that classes go on as before. At the funeral for their dead classmates a priest delivers the eulogy: “God has given and the police, they have taken. What has happened to these children is not the unusual.” Stimela leads others in a protest chant.

After an exuberant entr’acte by the band: Excuse Me Baby, Act II Opens with an announcement that the students are organising a protest to the State of Emergency: Meeting Tonight. Like the predecessors in 1976, these children are prepared to battle for their rights: Stand and fight. The students decide to do a musical production. Days later, some students gather on the street to gossip about the latest arrests. Policemen approach and chase the students and throw them in a police van with other students who have been picked up for detention.

Finally, it is the end of the year. And with that, the concert starts off with a joyous number celebrating the natural wonders of Africa: Kilimanjaro. The show ends with a celebration of the day the children all dream of, when their beloved leader is released from prison. Sarafina, playing the part of Mandela, delivers the speech that she imagines Mandela will give upon his relaease.

- Dates: Thursday 8th May to Sunday 11th May 2003
- Venue: Kenya National Theatre