Media personality Somizi Mhlongo has opened up about one of the defining chapters of his childhood, revealing how landing a role in Sarafina! changed his life at a remarkably young age.
Speaking on the L-Tido Podcast, Somizi reflected on his experience performing in the internationally successful production, including how he landed the role of Fire, travelled the world and eventually realised that the stage was where he truly belonged.
Sarafina! was directed, composed and choreographed by the late Mbongeni Ngema and was released as a film in 1992. Before the film reached international audiences, the stage production had already made a name for itself, with Somizi becoming part of its journey.
According to Somizi, his father initially did not want him to audition because he believed he was too young. However, that did not stop the young performer from finding a way into the auditions.
“The Sarafina! one, my dad didn’t want me to do it. My dad was the choreographer and the musical director for Sarafina!. There was the first cast for Sarafina! that went to Broadway in New York. The show became such a success that the world wanted the show, so they needed to create a second company that’s going to travel the world. I went for auditions when I arrived there Mbongeni said no you can’t enter the auditions because you’re dad said your too young.”
Somizi admitted that he eventually lied about receiving permission from his father so he could audition.
“And then I lied and said no I spoke to my dad today he said its okay I can audition. There were no cellphones and it was only landline. We rehearsed the show and performed the show at the Market Theatre and on the day that we were supposed to leave for our first trip in Europe my dad saw the list of the cast members. That was the first time. I called him when we arrived in Austria. He said, follow your passion and if it fails just know that you can still come back to me.’”
His decision opened the door to an extraordinary childhood. Somizi revealed that the cast was paid between $500 and $900 per week.
“We were getting paid between $500 to $900 per week”
Today in South Africa, $500 to $900 is equivalent to R8 000 to R14 000.
While touring, Somizi also continued with his education. He explained that the production made arrangements for tutors to travel with the young cast members.
“We had tutors who came on tour with us. It was tough because we would finish the show at night and then wake up to have breakfast and then at 10:00 we start class, from 10:00 until 14:00 we would have class. Mbongeni got teachers from all over the world to tour with us. We were well taken of. When I still think about those days, I still smile. We slept in five-star hotels, I knew of the Hilton at the age, from the age of 13. I knew of those hotels from a very early, early age.”
Despite continuing his schooling while travelling, Somizi said he had already realised that traditional education did not feel like his path.
“I hated school because I realised at that early age that there is nothing for me there. I knew it was a waste of time. I did History, Biology and Biblical Studies and I knew those things aren’t going to take me anywhere. The only thing I knew was going to take me somewhere was Mathematics and English, Maths to count my money and English to read my contracts.”
For Somizi, performing was more than simply a job. It gave him a sense of purpose and allowed him to pursue the dreams he had already developed as a child.
“I was bored at school. So, when my parent left for New York to Broadway and I was in Grade 8 and when they left, I knew that was the chance for me to pursue my dreams.”
His determination eventually brought him back to Sarafina! auditions for another cast.
“When I got to Grade 9, 3 months down the line the auditions for the next cast for Sarafina! and then that’s when I went.”
Looking back at his childhood journey, Somizi summed up the impact performing had on him with six powerful words:
“The stage made me come alive.”
For Somizi, Sarafina! was therefore more than a production. It became an early turning point that allowed him to travel, work professionally and discover a passion that would continue shaping his career long after he left the stage as a young performer.
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