The Afrikaans Phenomenon

Here we are in a changed South Africa, a culture rainbow allsorts, embracing many views, styles, noises, sneers and, then, music. Now, I’m not a South African jellytot man omniscient of all music in South Africa, but I’ve found myself in the middle-to-upper-class-bored-to-death-hood. The one where kids in D.F. Malan with rich daddies and uninspired lives turn to music.

Before I start, I would just like to add that I talk Afrikaans at home, with friends, parents etc. I only write in English, so this is not all a Soutie being obnoxious to the boere. Now more closely, I’m talking about the Afrikaans alternative music scene, which has seen an amazing birth recently due to MK and Fokofpolisiekar. I for one was never a hardcore patriotic, “Vir jou Suid-Afrika!”, but rather skeptical of this Afrikaans “foofie”.

When Fokofpolisiekar became the gods of the SA teens, I realized something was astir. I, with an objective mind listened to Fokofpolisiekar and quickly realized what was messing with the minds of so many lost teens – Afrikaans. I’m going to make a bold statement, but when you take FPK and replace them with an English faggot you get boring rehashed nonsense. Obviously there are exceptions, Hemel op die Platteland and Skynheilig among few, but most are generic punk.

Since when does singing in a different language constitute ignorance toward something original? It completely fails me. Perhaps I’m not that a big lyric listener, but this is just ridiculous. Now, many teens from bored lives and anarchist tendencies follow suit in Fokofpolisiekar’s path to unoriginality. Every time I see a band on MK I throw up, because they think they can get away with just singing Afrikaans and having sub-par punk churned dredge as accompaniment. The sad thing is it works for them. Other bored teens go ape shit over their rehashed nonsense. South Africa’s generation X? After Apartheid perhaps they are lost and feel the need to connect to their “Vaderland”. FOK DIT!

I’m a slight music purist, and try to as objective to any type of music, but this recent surge of idolatry towards sub-par Afrikaans music is making me rage in ire. The only Afrikaans band doing something original while still creating interesting lyrics in their “moedertaal” is Foto na Dans. Those chaps are my heroes. Another interesting band to check out is Vermoor Jou Vriende, last year’s JIP Rockspaaider North Winners. They try something slightly different, albeit still having the stock guitars, bass, drums and vocals formula, I’m keen on hearing their album, which has recently been released. I’m ordering a CD, and will review it in a future post. Of course there is still: Zinkplaat and Die Helde with some good stuff. Do you have any other suggestions of any good Afrikaans bands? Maybe I missed something obvious? Comment me!

So, I beg you, please when you hear another Afrikaans band, stand back and think a bit; take away the language and what do you get? Does this sound like anything produced before?

Cheers,

Niel

P.S. – Fok Ef-El, hulle gooi ‘n kickass live show en het mal catchy tunes, maar ek het hul nog nie vergewe nie. Oja, Straatligkinders ook.