The seminal musical Sarafina! returns to the stage this April in a school production by Igiza Arts Production in collaboration with Kirawa Road School.
Staged on April 3 at the Kenya National Theatre, it joins a wave of productions by student performers as the holiday season kicks off.
For Nalani Njeri Ngunyi, who plays Sarafina, this is her first major musical. Though the young actor had to project her voice and deliver her lines with ease during the audition to secure the role, she admits that mastering the rest of the script in rehearsals has not been easy.
“At first it was hard to memorise my lines. I had a lot of dialogue, but it is getting easier now to remember when I am rehearsing,” she explains.
Still, she approaches the iconic role with readiness and pride.
“This is a major milestone for me. I am hoping people come in large numbers to see me perform and be part of my journey in theatre. And of course clap for me if I do well,” she shares.
Kenyan director and script adapter Wreiner Arnold says adapting the work for a school cast meant focusing on elements that translate easily to stage from the film. The parts of the original story he felt most important to retain were its musical revolutions.
Arnold was drawn to stage the piece for its continued relevance. He says he was moved by the role children played during the anti-apartheid era.
“It is important for children in the present times to know the history of the role that their peers played,” he says.
Working with students, he adds, is especially rewarding as the transformation comes full circle. The main challenge, however, was limited rehearsal time, with only an hour each week due to the school timetable.
“Still, through Sarafina!, the students have acclimatised to musical theatre production and are confident to take up more of such challenges,” he observes.
Igiza Arts Production, through its academy wing, runs the drama club at Kirawa Road School. The school, in turn, offered strong support, providing props, costumes and building trust with parents.
He hopes audiences will connect the story of Sarafina! to present times.
“Just like we remember the apartheid-era heroes and heroines, we must not forget the Gen Zs and others who lost their lives while fighting to liberate the country in 2024 and 2025,” he states.
The original stage musical, Sarafina!, was written by playwright, composer and director Mbongeni Ngema in 1987. It was later adapted into a 1992 film, penned by Ngema and William Nicholson, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Leleti Khumalo and Miriam Makeba.
Sarafina! is a South African musical drama that follows a student, Sarafina, who leads her peers in protests against the use of Afrikaans in schools during the 1976 Soweto Uprising. The musical has been staged countless times around the world.
