Sarafina!, a musical celebra­ Award. During the run in New tion of a group of South African York, he met with Hugh Masekela, students’ resistance to and rebel­ the South African jazz musician, lion against apartheid, will open at who happened to be performing Memorial Hall on Tuesday, Janu­ there at the time. The two decided SARAFINA! ary 22 at 8:00p.m. Sarafina! comes to collaborate on the music of to UNC directly from Broadway Sarafina! with a cast of 30 actors ages 15 to The results of their efforts are 25 who sing and dance. Many of almost two dozen songs in the them appeared in the world pre­ Mbaqanga tradition, which com­ miere of Sarafina! at the Market bines a number of different musi­ Theatre in Johannesburg in early cal styles, including jazz, rock, m i. and gospel. The Conceived, written and directed cast is made up of youngsters by Mbongeni Ngema (pronounced drawn from all over South Africa. bawn ee en-Gay-mah), the noted None of the original actors was South African author and musi­ professional performers when they cian, the idea to write Sarafina! auditioned — they went through « came in 1984 when Winnie Man- eight months of extensive training People, Arts

dela, wife of then jailed African to prepare for their stage debut. National Congress leader Nelson The story of Sarafina! follows Mandela, spoke with Mbongeni the activities of a class of the Morris about doing a show which would Isaacson High School in Soweto, celebrate the children of South siteofthe now famous 1976upris- Africa’s townships. ings which resulted in the deaths Ngema, who had achieved in­ of hundreds of children. For an ternational fame as one of the co­ end-of-the-school-year concert, creators and stars of the play Woza the students decided to put on a Albert, began to develop the idea play about the day when Nelson and saw it as a terrific opportunity Mandela would be released from to also celebrate the music of the prison after more than 20 years townships— a driving dance music and the Day of Liberation that is called Mbaqanga in Zulu. While sure to follow. working on Sarafina!, Ngemafirst Tickets are $25 for the public, The Music of Liberation finished the play Asinamali which $ 13 for students, and are available was nominated for a 1987 Tony from the Union Box Office. Express Yourself... Review: In Black Ink Pebbles' Always

By Corey Brown “Always,” a duet with Cherrelle job to help pump up the song Staff (which I believe a dedication to “Backyard,” they couldn’t over­ Black Ink invites all students to her husband L.A. Reid); and my come the “studio manufactured” showcase their talents in a special literary Ratings: B-/ C+ personal favorite, “Why Do I beat. That is a major “beef’ with edition of Black Ink. We will L.A. Reid, , , Believe.” After hearing these songs L.A. and ‘Face - their inability to Johnny Gill, Karyn White, Salt-n- accept poems, fiction, graphic art and other it’ll have you thinking about past produce a “live” sound in their Pepa, and Cherrelle: what do they and presentrelationships and what dance songs. artistic forms. all have in common? They all you’d give to be with that person. Overall, depending on which worked on Pebbles' second album The diasappointments I had way you look at it Always isAsn’t entitled Always. With all of this with Always were with the quality for you. If you’re into the slow- talent pooled into one it would be of uptempo songs. With every artist chillwitchahoneyjams or if you just quite hard for her to have an aver­ L.A. and Babyface produces, you want to gaze at the beauty on the age album. The problem is despite can count on meaningful lyrics, cover (Pebbles is fine), this album all of these artists only a few songs Think Black Ink! but that takes emphasis from beat is definitely near the top of the have their own identity. and rhythms to make you groove. priorities list. But, if you antici­ The strength of this album lies I mean, “” pate an album to keep you dancing in its ballads. Three in particular Entries will be accepted until: was a hit in the clubs, but it will all night, you might want to look come to mind; the newest release, probably be the last of her dance for a friend and get a dub of it. (I “,” Monday, February 4, 1991 tunes to get serious rotation. And actually got it from my cousin. which is a duet with Babyface; although Salt-n-Pepa did a good Thanks Shonda!)