The 1992 film Sarafina has been praised around the world, but I think it has a better soundtrack.
Sarafina! The film is hailed as a great film in many parts of the country and the world as it succinctly depicts the landmark events of June 16, 1976.
Set beneath the clouds of political turmoil in the country, this South African film packs in musical drama, moving music and impressive dancing.
Enzi, HITACHI Kicchogo TV#Sarafina pic.twitter.com/x3q7GOn8we
— fredy@mitumba🇹🇿🇰🇪🇺🇬 (@fredymboya) December 27, 2023
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Released in 1992, the film was written by Mbongeni Ngema and William Nicholson and stars Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg.
Goldberg plays Mary Mathembuko, an inspirational teacher who inspires her newly appointed students at a Soweto high school during the height of apartheid.
We observe when students in Soweto fought bullets and stones on June 16, 1976. Were their deaths in vain?
cast #Sarafina They enlightened the world about the atrocities of apartheid. Now they are performing in Hollywood, leading to a boycott of shows in South Africa.
Where are they today? pic.twitter.com/q5Mjpp6eKm
— Felicia Mabuza Satoru (@Feliciamabuza) June 16, 2024
The film also stars a young Leleti Khumalo, a young Somizi Mhlongo and Doja Cat's father, Dumisani Dlamini.
In 1992, the film received a 20-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.
It returned to the film festival last year. Sarafina! It became the first South African film to be selected twice for the Cannes Film Festival.
Related article: Sarafina! becomes first South African film to return to Cannes Film Festival after 30 years
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The film has won many other awards and will continue to win more.
One thing that is never mentioned in conversation is Sarafina! The accompanying soundtrack is great, though.
Sarafina! The Sound of Freedom Possibly the best film soundtrack of any South African film.
Just as the film depicts the events of June 1976, the music on the 11-song album tells its story in song.
Lord's Prayer It embodies Leonardo da Vinci's words, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
The lyrics of this song are the actual Lord's Prayer, but the way it is sung breathes new life into the words.
Freedom is coming Sung powerfully by the young Kanyo Maphumulo, it is an infectious and powerful song that, as the title suggests, stirs strong feelings of expectation in the hearts of those who hear it.
Throughout the album, the lead singers singing backing vocals reflect the friendship between the young people of June 16th, which is undeniably committed.
Related article: Sarafina! wins honors at Marrakech Film Festival, ends 2023 with a bang
Move the story forward
Like a song Sabellais a punishment for informants who sold black lives to the apartheid government for financial gain. Thandi Zulu leads the song, and her words and vocals support it beautifully.
I can't help but feel gloomy Safa Safer Isizwe come over.
The song expresses the suffering of oppressed Africans pleading with political leaders to do something to change the situation in the country.
Another difficulty in fighting the sadness is that it's easy to picture a scene in the film where young people in police custody sing this song as a way to give themselves hope.
The feeling when you know #FreedomDay I'll come tomorrow! 😁 #Sarafina pic.twitter.com/0UzcPS0dFS
— NetflixSA (@NetflixSA) April 26, 2024
There is a section in the song where the singer praises the song and I found it fascinating to listen to that rather than listening to “Mzwakhe Mbuli”.
Opening guitar riff Vuma Droj Lami It's so tasty, you'll want to add it to everything.
While the song doesn't speak to the album's underlying themes of struggle, it symbolizes that even during the turbulent times of apartheid, there were moments of joy for black families, such as weddings and other ceremonies.
Most of the songs on the album were written by Ngema and also feature African music icons Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba, who also stars in the film.
Masekela wrote and performed the film's title song.
Sarafina! The Sound of Freedom It ends with an encouraging voice from Nguema. RizobyaThere he recites liberation slogans.
Nguema doesn't always sing, but he repeatedly reassures people.
This project was released before South Africa became a democracy, so its importance cannot be understated.
Perhaps then, as now, people needed encouragement.
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