SOWETO50 - WE R THE FUTURE
On June 16 2026, New Heritage Theatre Group and Harlem Stage produced a landmark full-day cultural celebration in Harlem, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising and South Africa's National Youth Day.
SOWETO50 - A VISUAL DIARY
New Heritage Films captured the spirit of this historic day through a documentary lens, bringing together its most powerful moments, voices, and stories. Whether experiencing the event for the first time or reliving it, this film offers a glimpse into the history, inspiration, and legacy that brought the celebration to life.
SOWETO 50: WE R THE FUTURE
PRESENTED BY
New Heritage Theatre Group
Disney Theatrical Productions
Harlem Stage
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Abyssinian Baptist Church
A. Philip Randolph High School
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Voza Rivers
Britt Dixon
LINE PRODUCER
Andre Robinson
MARKETING CONSULTANTS
Jeremiah Ducille
Michele Echols
Melissa Skinner
Michael Smith
DOCUMENTARY “Soweto50 - A Visual Diary” PRODUCED BY NEW HERITAGE FILMS
Jamal Joseph
Mike De Caro
FEATURED TALENT
Whoopi Goldberg
Leleti Khumalo
Atandwa Kani
Pearl Khwezi
Ron Kunene
Sipho Kunene
Mduduzi Madela
Greg Mosher
Duma Ndlovu
Nigel Noble
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
Donna Walker-Kuhne
A. PHILLIP RANDOLH HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH SEGMENT PRESENTED BY
Harlem Stage
Dr. Indira Etwaroo · CEO and Executive Director
Bethany Ciron
Zenzele Daniels
Denzel Fields
ORIGINAL BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF SARAFINA!
Produced by New Heritage Theatre Group
and Lincoln Center Theater · 1988
VOICES OF SARAFINA! DOCUMENTARY
Directed by Nigel Noble
Emmy Award Winner · Cannes Film Festival 1989
IMPACT REPERTORY THEATRE OF HARLEM
Academy Award and Grammy-nominated Youth Program
Jamal Joseph, Executive Artistic Director & Founder
Voza Rivers, Executive Producer & Founder
Dietrice Bolden, Artistic Director
Academy Award and Grammy-nominated Youth Program
CONGRESSIONAL PROCLAMATION
Congressman Adriano Espaillat
United States House of Representatives
New York's 13th Congressional District
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Consul General Simon Cardy
South African Consulate General · New York
With support from the office of
Senator Chuck Schumer · United States Senate
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
NYC Health & Hospital Corp./Harlem Hospital
City College of New York
Manna's Oso's
Jacob's Restaurant
Jekmar Associates
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Alvin Nederlander Associates
The George and Mary Campbell Charitable Gift Fund
James Larry Frazier, Esq.
Jane & Richard Taffet Charitable Fund
Jekmar Associates
NYC Health & Hospital Corp./Harlem Hospital
Michael Ross, Esq.--Ross NY Law LDC
Thomas Schumacher Charitable Foundation
The Shubert Organization
Trebek Family Foundation
Valorie Williams
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Ken Sunshine
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
PRESS
OkayAfrica: June 17, 2026
"From Soweto to Harlem — An Unbroken Thread of Resistance"
NEW HERITAGE THEATRE GROUP STAFF
Desiree Elder · Artistic Director
Temple-Jene Fleming, Chief of Staff
Shauny Johnson, Administrative Assistant
Darryl T. Downing, Staff Photographer
Lenny Parker, Curator
SPECIAL THANKS
Anant Singh · Executive Producer, Sarafina! 1992 Film
Ben Famiglietti · Disney Theatrical
Council Member Yusef Salaam
Dr. Kevin Johnson · Abyssinian Baptist Church
Elizabeth Findlay · Disney Theatrical
Hunter College
Johanny Adams · Office of Congressman Espaillat
Mzi Botha · South African Consulate General, New York
Shana Marks · Office of Congressman Espaillat
Tom Leonardis · Whoop Inc.
IN MEMORIAM
Mbongeni Ngema · Creator of Sarafina! · 1955 – 2023
Hugh Masekela · Composer · 1939 – 2018
Lloyd A. Williams · Co-Founder, HARLEM WEEK
DEDICATED TO
The Youth of Soweto
June 16, 1976
&
To the one thousand Harlem students who carried their story forward
June 16, 2026
SOWETO 50: WE R THE FUTURE
Presented by New Heritage Theatre Group
In Partnership with Harlem Stage
© 2026 New Heritage Theatre Group · All Rights Reserved