‘Afrikaans is supposed to be the language of the oppressor, does that mean Italian is the language of the Fascist and English the tongue of the colonist imperialists?” ask Brasse Vannie Kaap.
- Given the ‘zef’ Afrikaans rap rave craze currently being peddled by potty-mouthed white rappers Die Antwoord and Jack Parow you’d be forgiven for answering in the affirmative. B.V.K. aren’t buying into any such binary thinking though. For the past fifteen years the pioneering Cape Flats hip hop crew have sidestepped linguistic stereotypes to redeem Afrikaans as a meaningful socio-political signifier to spread self-knowledge. Since their self-titled debut back in 1997 their ‘Afrikaaps’ rapped parables of Cape Flats life have offered audiences from Die Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunsfees and Aardklop to Splashy Fen and back an uncompromisingly conscious antidote to American gangster rap cliches. Audiences attending this weekend’s DVD concert shoot can expect a kaleidoscopic tour through their Afrikaans hip-hop songbook. The Beat Bangaz DJ crew of Ready D, E-20, Azuhl mash-up the hip hop, drum and bass and dubstep soundtrack across four turntables. Underground emcee Hemelbesem, parody rymklets specialists the NP Projek and satirical rapper Hakkiesdraad share the special guest support slots. A limited exclusive mixtape will be on sale.
Klein Libertas, Berzigcht Plein, Du Toit Street, Stellenbosch, April 16, 9pm. Entrance is R40.
- Billed as a ‘winter warmer’ taster of some of the homegrown sounds to expect at the annual Rocking the Daisies Festival in Spring, the annual Sowing the Seeds festival features a family-friendly line-up. Hot Water give fans of funky Afro-pop fusion a reason to party alongside aKING who give indie pop-rockers off their new album, The Red Blooded Years an acoustic makeover. Jeremy ‘Loops’ Hewitt shares his acoustic guitar, harmonica, beatbox, vocals and loop pedal powered jams alongside DJ Trak on support. African Dope DJs Mix ‘n Blend, 7ft Soundsytem and Honey B lubricate the breakbeats alongside swing ting genre surfer James Copeland. Added attractions include gourmet food, bar, craft market, shaded areas, a kids play area, ample clean and serviced ablutions and more.
Cape Farmhouse, Scarborough Junction M55 & M66 , April 16, noon. Entrance is R100 to R130 (including transport). Website: www.capefarmhouse.co.za. Book at www.webtickets.co.za