Leleti Khumalo, a seasoned actor, remarks on seeing herself in the remastered version of Sarafina! It seemed like yesterday was 31 years ago.
The movie, which starred John Kani, Whoopi Goldberg, Miriam Makeba, and Mbongeni Ngema among others, was released in 1992.
Khumalo still remembers how they had fun while learning the choreography and music.
The re-mastered version premiered on Thursday and is set to hit local cinemas nationwide from today. The film is featured at this year’s 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Khumalo stated in an interview with Sowetan just prior to the Thursday premiere: “It feels so new as if I just finished it. I watch it and it feels so fresh. I can still clearly recall everything, including the environment. Simply put, it evokes many feelings. We have currently lost a large number of Sarafina members! and just that is upsetting.
“We had people like Miriam Makeba, Whoopie Goldberg and John Kani, who had a lot of experience, while for us it was our first movie. They really protected us as actors and children as much as they were our colleagues. “
“They shaped us in such a way that when we entered the industry we knew how to behave. Whoopi was an international star but she did not like to be treated like that. One day she asked everyone not to treat her differently because she was not a star. She told them that the young lady [Leleti] was the star.”
Even though Sarafina! has a compelling plot, the singing and dancing only serve to further the narrative. Khumalo told Sowetan that they had eight weeks to learn to act, sing, and dance as they were getting ready for a theatrical production.
“We had to emotionally, physically, and otherwise prepare ourselves because we were raw coming from KZN. But they hired Michael Peters from Los Angeles for the film. He had to give the movement as a whole a worldwide appearance.
When questioned about the continued relevance of Sarafina!, Khumalo responded, “Sarafina! will always be relevant due of the history and message. We had no idea we were making such a massive movie while we were filming. Not even the producers knew.
“This movie will always be relevant due of the message. It talks about how we obtained our freedom and how the 1976 student uprising is referenced. Younger generations must continue to hear this kind of history told in order for them to understand that someone gave their life so that they might enjoy this freedom.
