Joep Pelt in South Africa – Part 1

Shortly before the football World Cup swept through South Africa in 2010, I  visited the country for the first time. My aim was to dive as deep as I could into the musical soul of South Africa by meeting as many different artists as possible. In four two hour episodes we will explore various corners of South Africa’s musical landscape and dive into the country’s deep musical traditions.

In this first episode of my South Africa radio documentary series I’m jamming with the future of Kwela, the pennywhistlers of Kwela Tebza, meet Ray Phiri, bandleader of Stimela and the man who wrote the music for Paul Simon’s Graceland. Also I get to learn ‘rechte boeremusiek’ from concertina player Stephaan van Zyl and meet Hilda Tloubatla, leader of the legendary female singing group Mahotella Queens.

This radio series was made for NTR, Radio 6. Partially in Dutch.

Joep Pelt in South Africa – Part 2

In the second episode of my South Africa radio documentary series I’m meeting up with Jazz pioneer Sipho Hotstix Mabuse to visit the famous Pelican Club, Soweto’s first place for live music. Also we talk to Jack Parow about the heritage of Afrikaans and the way his native language influences his music. Lat, but definitely not least, Joseph Makwela, South Africa’s first electric bass player, tells us about his musical legacy, working with Mahtotella Queens and Mahlathini with his Makgona Tshole Band.

This radio series was made for NTR, Radio 6. Partially in Dutch.