Produced in 2007-2008.
Synopsis: (written by Tertius Kapp in 2008)
Over the last five years, South Africa has seen an explosion of Afrikaans music. This went contrary to many expectations of the language, which for many was a symbol of the oppressive Apartheid system. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this cultural explosion is the immense growth of Afrikaans music in the youth market, specifically in punk, rock and pop. That is where the focus of this documentary lies.
The film has been uploaded in 2 parts because of duration.
To make the programme more appealing to a youth market, it was decided to also incorporate mockumentary elements. Although the first mockumentaries appeared long before This is Spinal Tap, the word was first used by director Rob Reiner, and the connection between rock music and mockumentaries has even led to the special category ‘rockumentary’. In the mockumentary section we follow the story of a struggling young musician who learns, with the viewer, about the music industry, the country, and the language. These inserts are mostly comical, and relate to the topics under discussion, sometimes directly, sometimes in a lateral fashion.
It was immediately apparent that this subject wouldn’t lend itself to a single explanation. Looking at forty years of music in a tumultuous sociopolitical context carries the danger of over-simplification, and while ‘big’ answers are addressed, several ‘smaller’ factors and cultural phenomena are taken into account. These are some of the most important that were taken into account:
• Arts festivals as platforms for artists (often more applicable to an older audience).
• The attraction of a career in music and the buying power of the Afrikaans public.
• The role of pioneers in the music industry.
• The role of radio, print media, and television.
• The development of ‘n scientific approach towards marketing and image building in the music industry, and the immediacy of internet marketing.
• Digital technology and its impact on the production and distribution of music.
• The history of independent labels in South Africa.
• Music videos and the music channel MK.
• The negative impact of censorship in the 70s and 80s. Government promotion of a language versus individual development.
• The political liberation of Afrikaans.
• Music competitions like JIP Rockspaaider and Idols.
• The steady decrease of Afrikaans in the public spheres, threats to the survival of the language.
• Identitity formation through music.
• The development of youth culture and the environment it requires.
• The attraction of a career in music and the buying power of the Afrikaans public.
• The role of pioneers in the music industry.
• The role of radio, print media, and television.
• The development of ‘n scientific approach towards marketing and image building in the music industry, and the immediacy of internet marketing.
• Digital technology and its impact on the production and distribution of music.
• The history of independent labels in South Africa.
• Music videos and the music channel MK.
• The negative impact of censorship in the 70s and 80s. Government promotion of a language versus individual development.
• The political liberation of Afrikaans.
• Music competitions like JIP Rockspaaider and Idols.
• The steady decrease of Afrikaans in the public spheres, threats to the survival of the language.
• Identitity formation through music.
• The development of youth culture and the environment it requires.
All photos: Janine Van Schoor
