Local celebs take up new initiatives to keep the ball running
Singers and performers had to make other plans to keep things afloat as lockdown bans bit into their livelihoods.
Covid-19 has hampered local artists’ plans for 2020, but ’n boer maak ’n plan as they say in Afrikaans (a farmer makes a plan).
Rekord spoke to a few artists such as Robbie Wessels, Jakkie Louw, Ghapi, Jannie du Toit and Sorina Erasmus about the new initiatives they are working on to cope with this “new normal”.
Actor, singer, songwriter and filmmaker, Robbie Wessels said he has set up a coffee cart on the corner of Garsfontein Road and Issie Smuts Street in Moreleta Park.
He bought a cart about two years ago, and came up with the idea to turn it into a coffee stall.
He gave passers-by a free cup of coffee on the first day.
The next day he sold more than 400 cups of coffee.
“I must say, we are overwhelmed with requests from people who want to sell us coffee beans and schools that want us to set up the stall in front of their premises.
“It was so fun to stand behind the cash register and pour the coffee and stand and talk to everyone who came out to get their cup of coffee,” he said.
He uses an Italian Bialetti coffee pot to make his brew.
“I do not yet plan to do the stall on a permanent basis, but the support I received was incredible.
“Thank you very much for all your support.
“There are a lot of things I’m working on that will be rolled out soon, but I do not want to elaborate on that now,” said Wessels.
Jakkie Louw toured Brisbane, Australia in January 2020, to present his show, Felias en Pokkel.
The two characters are two mice in a farmer’s house who learn more about where coffee, sugar, cookies and oxygen come from.
He also wrote a book and released a CD.
“During the lockdown period, I sold my books and CDs to families.
“Those who would like to see my show must tune in to SABC2 on Thursday, 11 February, where I will be performing with Johan Scheppel on the violin.
“There are eight characters that will be played in the puppet show.”
Louw recorded four songs, one of which was with Albert Frost.
However, the survey will only be done later in February.
Louw sells some of his puppets online.
Erika van Biljon from Moreleta Park made all of Louw’s hand puppets, out of school socks.
Van Biljon made Vrottie kokkerottie, Pata doe kat, Tienie die tv-vlieg, Skaai die kraai as well as Chris fie-verkleurmannetjie.
“I would like to write a follow-up to my book that appeared on the shelves four years ago.
“I have written a lot over the past year, especially children’s books.
“One has already been written, but the illustrations have yet to be done.
“It is about a princess adventure where two girls end up in this magical world where a magician chases them.”
Sorina Erasmus worked on the brand new project, the Tjominis, throughout the lockout period.
“It is an educational entertainment programme with music, videos, stories and songs for the small ones in Afrikaans.
“I also developed a mobile app on my own.
“It was quite a daily challenging process for me, especially with someone like me who is not technologically inclined to do it.
“My two children, barefoot and my curly-headed child inspired me to start this ‘app’.
“It is for mini-friends with big-dream talks.
“A colourful game of videos full of small-scale antics for every rascal and rabbit.
“The mobile app is for every modern mum and my two children.
“It is healthy entertainment for the small team, to make them play, sing and become super-smart at the same time.
“I worked very hard every day, to make the app a reality, to get the content together, to produce it and to add the voices.”
Cheeka-Cheeka, Bushaka, Krokkija, Apertjoe and Tannie Tjommie can be listened on the way home, to the shops as well as on the way to school.
South African singer Jannie du Toit said that it was “only grace from above” that he managed to do 30 of his 36 performances.
“I planned and arranged my Christmas programmes as well as my December tours in the West Coast, ‘Die maan deur ’n gaatjie in die nag’.
“The last couple we had to cancel because the Garden Route was closed.”
This year, marks the 50th year that Du Toit has been singing in Afrikaans.
I have a new programme, Bestemmings, which I will start with soon.
“It is about where my music has taken me over the 50 years and to still be able to sing in Afrikaans.”
Later in February, Du Toit can be seen in the Pierneef Theatre.
“The big thing I want to do this year is to concentrate on traditions that have been going on throughout my career.
“I will also soon be part of the Waterfees boat trip tour.
“Hopefully three of my programmes will be shown at the Atterbury Theatre in September,” said Du Toit.
Afrikaans rock sensation Ghapi said that he had very few performances lined up for 2020, and that 2021 did not look much better.
He has starred in one or two films in the past.
He also presented a Christian cooking programme, Food for the Soul.
However, Ghapi is known as a singing drummer.
“Currently, I am not very creative.
“I will have to get my brain back in the creative mood. Fortunately, I have some ideas that involve new singles.
“Hopefully, we can be back on stage soon, because that’s how we make money,” he said.
Ghapi said that this lockdown period only made him realise again, that he should focus more on his faith.
“What I will do in the future will be God-directed.”
He and his wife, Ingrid, have struggled because they are both in the music business.
“A friend actually gave us meal replacement shakes. Initially, we pulled our noses up at it, but as we started using it we lost some of the weight we gained over the lockdown period.
“After a week we had shed a few kilos.
“This is how we became involved with Herbal Life as distributors since the middle of last year.
“We even joined RunWalk4Life.”
He said although it was nice to spend some time with friends and family, but “we miss touring”.
“Last year, I released a new Afrikaans single, ‘Diep Water’.
“I started this song in 2014, but never finished it.
“The song is still only available on digital platforms, but I’m inviting everyone to listen to it.
“There are a lot of people going through deep waters.
“It’s not fun, but you learn something about yourself and about life.”
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