Hoërskool Randburg held an Afrikaans 100 concert in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Afrikaans as the official language in South Africa.

The celebrations kicked off with delicious koeksisters, milk tarts and sweet cookies that got everyone in the right festive mood. In the front yard, guests were already surprised with a cheerful ’flashmob’ from the school’s farmers’ dance group – a taste of the evening that would follow.

Read more: Local school hosts its famous annual concert

The programme included a rich variety of items – from the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in the Cape to the celebration of Afrikaans is Great.

Marintha Labuschagne, drama teacher and director of the concert, explained that when they heard in 2023 about the initiative to celebrate Afrikaans’ 100-year existence as an official language, they decided to host a concert at the school for the community.

“Writing and compiling the script began in February 2024. The goal was to present a journey through the history of Afrikaans in an entertaining and accessible way.”

The story began with the roots of Afrikaans shortly after Van Riebeeck landed in the Cape in 1652, touched on key moments such as the founding of the Genootskap vir Regte Afrikaners (Society of True Afrikaners), the start of television, the unveiling of the Taalmonument (Language Monument) in 1976, the first democratic election in 1994, and ended with the school’s own Afrikaans is Groot concert.

She added that the school is the only Afrikaans school in greater Johannesburg where all performing arts are offered as subjects. It was decided that the learners’ talents would be the main contributors to the concert.

Around 200 performers participated, including the school choir, Sterrenade group, drama learners, soloists, alumni, the adult Laudem Dei Chamber Choir, and the community’s symphony orchestra.

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