Starring:
- Leleti Khumalo
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Miriam Makeba
- John Kani
- Dumisani Dlamini
- Mbongeni Ngema
- Sipho Kunene
- Tertius Meintjes
Sarafina (Leleti Khumalo) is a young black South African struggling for freedom during the apartheid. While she has remained relatively silent in her opposition to the racist government in her country, the movement to make the language of Afrikaans the official language in her school leads her to protest in the streets with her fellow students. Her anti-government views become even more intense when her favorite teacher (Whoopi Goldberg) is arrested for protesting.