De La Rey CDBok van Blerk, the rock singer who co-wrote the runaway hit De la Rey - viewed as potentially treasonous for invoking a Boer guerrilla warfare hero - says everyone who speaks Afrikaans, of whatever race, is an Afrikaner.
Van Blerk (the stage name of Louis Pepler) draws a link between himself and an earlier generation of Afrikaans pathfinders, the Voelvry Tour of 1989 protest singers, saying one of them, Koos Kombuis, had told him the tune was irresistibly catchy.
The Kombuis generation of verligtes had, much like the historical General Koos de la Rey whom the song celebrates, sought a different Afrikaans identity to that of their patriarchy.
Van Blerk says that while the song might have resonance for "people who lost family in the concentration camps", while he thinks it is important that the Boer struggle against Britain not be forgotten, and while he believes De la Rey "stood for the right things", it was not his intention to pen a political anthem.
"Everyone has their own interpretation. I cannot control it and say what they must feel."
The 28-year-old says he is tired of snide comments on English-language radio stations about "rockspiders": "I do not think there is a place in this country for those who look down on people because of their language, culture or skin colour."
You can buy the DA La Rey CD Here
- De La Rey
- Jy Praat Nog Steeds My Taal
- Vodka en O.J.
- Hatfield Jol
- Die Bok Kan Bler
- Lenteblomme
- So Waai Die Wind
- Stuk Van Jou
- Op Walvisbaai
- 68 Chevy
- Katie
- Girls in Bikinis
- Habana!
Comments (0) 28.07.2007. 19:48
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