It was halfway through Tidal Waves’s show at Oppikoppi that it dawned on me. There is a reason why 16?000 people descend on this particular farm, just outside Northam in Limpopo, once a year.
Yes, the dusty, thorny campsite, rather affectionately christened Mordor by its inhabitants, is a hellish experience. Yes, you will blow dust out of your nose for three days running. Yes, you are likely to take a drunken tumble over some rocks or down the koppie, leaving you with some minor injuries and a tale that will get taller the later it gets in the evening.
But we come to Oppikoppi every year to have the best party you can find in South Africa and when you see thousands of Koppi-goers hurling themselves around to the reggae-rock fusion of a band like Tidal Waves, singing along to every word, it’s then that you realise just how much this crazy party means.
While the media and artists take in the festivities snug and secure in their exclusive, comfortable camping areas, 16?000 other paying customers let it all hang out in the dustbowl, Oppikoppi-style.
Throughout last weekend’s festival my media colleagues greeted me with horrified faces whenever I explained that I was camping in Mordor, because that was where my friends were camping.
Experiences, songs and beers
That is, after all, why I go to Oppikoppi: to have a wild time with some of my favourite people in the world, to share experiences, songs, beers and whatever else we choose to consume over the weekend.
A friend reminded me of this a few months back, when I tweeted that the ticket price of R550 was very steep and that the line-up was a bit thin on the ground in 2011. His response was, “Whatever, Lloyd, I’ll see you at our campsite.” And he was right.
I would be there, we would have a blast and we’d come home craving a hot shower, a porcelain toilet, a warm bed and a decent meal with some vegetables, but we’ll be back in 2012 and 2013 without fail.
I was reminded of my tweet about the line-up being “thin on the ground” over the weekend by Retha Hoffman, a vital part of the Oppikoppi family, whom I met for the first time only this year.
As we stood watching Cape Town electronic producer Sibot throwing down some phat beats, she mentioned the tweet to me. I was a little surprised that the comment had even made it through to the Hilltop Live team who put together this fantastic festival every year.
Larger than life
To be fair, I had already discovered a whole host of great new South African acts at Oppikoppi 2011 by that time and in my mind a decent number of highlights were lining up.
There was the fiery ska of Fuzigish from Friday night, the banging Afrikaans hip-hop of Bittereinder and the funky-as-hell house set from Zakes Bantwini on Saturday, and then on Sunday the explosive beats of P.H. Phat and the acoustic beauty of Riku Lätti.
I had watched South African legend Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse being sung happy birthday to by a massive crowd of mostly Afrikaans kids, veteran singer/songwriters Matthew van der Want and Chris Letcher wow the audience with some intimate beauty, and the larger-than-life David Kramer mesmerise an audience of more than 10?000 people as he was joined on stage by some of the best musicians this country has to offer.
The more I thought about the conversation I had with Hoffman, the more I realised that some may see my complaints about the festival as being hypercritical, yet I still pack my bag and head to Oppikoppi every year.
However, my reason for the criticism is that I want Oppikoppi to be the best festival it can be.
Having a blast
I love this damn crazy place, I love getting wild and dirty with my friends and I love getting blisters on my feet, because we charge all over that farm, searching for the best festival experience we can.
And, just like me, there were 16?000 others doing exactly the same, making new memories and new friends, and discovering new favourite bands.
And it is for this reason that Oppikoppi owes its punters the best experience it can possibly deliver. They come back year after year and camp in those hellish conditions because they want the best party that South Africa can produce.
So to the Hilltop Live team, I have to say thank you, thank you for another great Oppikoppi, it was a blast. And next time I make comments about the line-up, the awful international acts, the bands that don’t seem to be getting the opportunities I feel they should to play Oppikoppi or the absolute abomination of a card payment system, I am not doing it because I am trying to be difficult.
I am doing it because I am just as invested (maybe in a different way) in this festival as you are and I want it to be the best damn festival around.