South Africa’s second post-COVID World Accordion Day event is set to be celebrated in the Western Cape, kicking off at the Alma Café in Rosebank, on Friday, 3 May, and will ‘culminate in a dinner, expo and concert’ at the Drostdy Theatre in Stellenbosch on Sunday, 5 May.
World Accordion Day was first recognised in 2009 and inaugurated in Italy before being annually observed on 6 May all over the world, as reported by City Press via News24.
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Top South African accordionists will participate in the commemoration, including Leon Albert Oosthuizen, the president of the nonprofit organisation SAFRA (SA Free Reed Association), Loren Ehlers, Ralikoriana koete Masholu (RKM), and Mahamba, better known as Mr Dreams.
Oosthuizen’s ‘mandate’ is the development of the accordion, bandoneon, diatonic accordion and other free reed instruments.
‘Appreciation for the accordion is evident in how the instrument features in various South African cultures and popular music, where it gives character to the current trends,’ said Oosthuizen.
‘It also connects us to other cultures such as Latin, French and German. In Africa, it is well-loved in Lesotho, Congo and is a big part of Zulu music,’ he added.
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Prominent artists, such as Johnny Clegg and Paul Simon, are some artists whose sound was enhanced by the accordion, Oosthuizen mentioned.
Oosthuizen also added that ‘for the first time in 30 years’, the University of Cape Town (UCT) currently has students pursuing tertiary education in the accordion.
This qualification would amplify the students’ chances to perform in world championships post-graduation, according to Oosthuizen.
Attendees of the event can expect a tango dance session accompanied by piano, country dancing, traditional Austrian dance and South African music.
Details:
- Date: Friday, 3 May (Alma Café, Rosebank) | Sunday, 5 May (Drostdy Theatre, Stellenbosch)
- Location: Alma Café, Rosebank| Drostdy Theatre, Stellenbosch
- Time: 6:30pm (Friday, 3 May) | 1pm (Sunday, 5 May)
- Tickets: R200 at [email protected] (Friday, 3 May) | R310 at Web Tickets (Sunday, 5 May)
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Picture: Yan Krukau / Pexels