2014 marks the 25th anniversary of what was arguably the single most important event in the history of Afrikaans music culture. Organised by Shifty Records and irreverent Afrikaans weekly paper, Vrye Weekblad, if nothing else, the Voëlvry tour changed the face of Afrikaans youth culture forever. We celebrate the occasion by screening the documentary Voëlvry, die Toer, followed by a discussion on the factors that caused these artists to come up with the right idea at the right time. More importantly, the panel will then explore the Voëlvry legacy.
This session will be moderated by Oppikoppi supremo, Carel Hoffmann.
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.
