On a song and prayer

How things have changed.
Who would have thought that one would find time and fun freezing in the lowveld winter listening to Afrikaans music? Perish the thought, I say. And that is exactly what the last two days have been. In between violent coughing bouts, I have been serenaded by Afrikaans music, have spoken more Afrikaans than I have for the whole year and have been a real sucker for punishment. I am just glad I dont drink otherwise I would be adding adding brandy as one of the culprits for the misery of my life right now.
There are those who cannot put serenade and Afrikaans music in one sentence. It would be sacrilege, they say. I understand. Maybe it is the combination of drugs I am taking to fight the flu that makes the music sound cool. (A friend says it is not possible I could be suffering from swine flu. I am already a swine)
Maybe it is the cold. Maybe it is just wanting to reach out and understand a culture close yet foreign to me. But seriously, De la Rey is a great song. Take away the politics and it is easy to understand why certain people find it so stirring. Ok, I have not been moved to tears listening to it. But it does remind of the scene in White Wedding...
Anyway things are really happening here at the Innibos Kunstefees or arts festival in Nelspruit. I have had a chance to network, drink awful coffee with powdered milk, get introduced to something new and wonderful in the Afrikaans culture. There was a whisky tasting yesterday by M-power with cigars aplenty. All the vices I have given up. Forget the cold. Live a little and once in your life, tell your kids you were at the Innibos in Nelspruit. It is a great marketing event and the big players have seen its potential.
Mpumalanga Development Corridor has pumped in some funds into the showpiece. CEO Blessing Manale says it is money well spent. It makes sense. The funds that are flowing into the province and the town are huge. Who needs the Grahamstown festival?