Afrikaans duet music celebrated in style at Afri Duet Festival

The Afri Duet Festival marked its twelfth anniversary on 24 and 25 October with a dazzling celebration of music and theatre that united, inspired, and evoked nostalgia among audiences.

This year’s theme, Paul Kruger 200, honoured the 200th anniversary of the birth of Paul Kruger, the four-time president of the former South African Republic. The festival paid tribute to his legacy through music and performance, adding cultural depth to an already rich programme.

The Afri Duet Festival has become known as a showcase of South Africa’s finest musical duos. This year’s lineup featured renowned artists, including Jannie Moolman and Helene Bester, Louis Loock and Loriska (Bubb) Schmidt, Hendri Myburgh and Nadia Beukes, as well as Wynand and Chereé Strydom.

The second half of the programme featured a stage performance based on the life of Paul Kruger, adapted from the production Die Groot Gryse, Klein voor God. Veteran actor Rouel Beukes took on the role of Kruger. Beukes, who received last year’s FAK Award at the festival for his lifelong contribution to Afrikaans arts, delivered a moving portrayal that captivated the audience.

Previous recipients of the prestigious FAK Lifetime Achievement Award include Annelie van Rooyen, Carike Keuzenkamp, Manuel Escórcio, Lance James, Min Shaw, Johan Stemmet, Koos du Plessis (posthumously), the Alabama Student Society, and the Pro Patria Museum.

Each year, the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations (FAK) presents an award to an individual or organisation for their lifelong contribution to the preservation of Afrikaans music. This year, Ziegfried van Huyssteen, Chief Executive of the FAK, presented the award to the Kruger Society in recognition of its longstanding efforts to preserve and promote Kruger’s legacy.

“This recognition is not only a reflection on the past but a celebration of our cultural and historical ties through music,” said Van Huyssteen. “We are grateful that the Paul Kruger legacy continues to have a place in a festival so deeply rooted in Afrikaans song.”

“With the theme Paul Kruger 200, we wanted to connect our musical expression with our history, to remember, reflect, and celebrate together. The duet form is perfect for this: two voices enriching one another, just as history and culture strengthen each other,” he added.

As in previous years, the programme combined popular and classical folk songs. Hosts Reverend Cassie Aucamp and Helena Ceronio kept the audience entertained with wit and humour, ensuring that the atmosphere remained light-hearted and engaging.

“Every duet brought its own personality to the stage,” said Dawid Brand, Chief Executive of Media, Marketing, and Tourism at the Kultuurtuiste. “There was something for everyone, from lovers of classical singing and admirers of powerful voices to those who simply wanted to experience heartfelt music in an intimate setting.”

At a time when digital music dominates the landscape, the value of live performance remains significant. “The Afri Duet Festival provides a platform for top-quality Afrikaans duet music, a genre that does not always receive the recognition it deserves on mainstream stages,” said Brand.