Voëlvry: The Movement That Rocked South Africa

by Pat Hopkins

In what the Cape Times described as 'an unprecedented orgy of Afrikaner anarchy', the Alternative Afrikaans Music Movement unleashed Boere Beatlemania among the youth and apoplexy within the Afrikaner establishment. At a time when South Africa was embroiled in the Border wars, PW Botha was Die Groot Krokodil and Potchefstroom University was debating whether dancing was a sin, an eccentric mix of young Afrikaans artists took to the road and became the voice of their generation. Their goal was the emancipation of Afrikaner youth from the strictures of their authoritarian, patriarchal culture, and they would make it cool to be an Afrikaner. Organised by Vrye Weekblad and Shifty Records, the Voelvry tour featured, among others, Andre Letoit (Koos Kombuis), Johannes Kerkorrel en die Gereformeerde Blues Band, and Bernoldus Niemand (James Phillips) en die Swart Gevaar. This title, based on interviews with participants and observers, reconstructs those heady days. It is a rollicking read that will appeal to those who were there, those who say they were there and those who wish they were there. Illustrated with photographs of the event.

Genres: Music

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2006

About the author

Pat Hopkins was a history and political science graduate from the former University of Natal, now the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He was an award-winning travel journalist and author and co-author of more than 18 books, including Place: A Collection of South African Travel and Landscape Quotations, 101 Beloved Bars of Southern Africa, Voëlvry: The Movement That Rocked South Africa, all published by Zebra Press, and Padlangs deur Suid-Afrika: 'n Streek-vir-Streek Reisgids, published by Struik Travel & Heritage.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am too close to the subject to give this an objective review, but my dad, who is 88 and knows zilch about rock music, loved it too. It gives a really good preamble on the history of South Africa, and particularly the Afrikaner, so the overseas reader won't be in the dark.

It's a fascinating look at an incredibly turbulent time in South Africa, dealing with the musicians who hammered the final nail in the regime's coffin. I was privileged to be a close spectator, with my camera in hand, and it's the subject of my own self-published first book.

But at the same time it's also terribly sad, as of the three guiding lights of the movement, only one, Andre LeToit, still lives.

[Rhodé Odendaal · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Art for art’s sake is a lot of shit. It’s art for us the people”. - Ralph Rabie

The past gives us insights into our evolving human behaviour, and what should be our continued pursuit for compassion, empathy and kindness.

[Natascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic account of the history of this movement, which is so integral to the renaissance of Afrikaans musiek.

[Maja Dezulovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read for any South African. It says a lot about being an Afrikaner during Apartheid. The people were brainwashed by their own government using Nazi techniques and only the brave few stood up against this.
I now have a greater respect for Afrikaans music and I am going to listen more to some of the artists mentioned in the book.