Upcoming concerts at South Africa’s National Arts Festival
The project “Sounding Indigenous in South Africa” is excited to host two performances of Indigenous Nama music at South Africa’s 2026 National Arts Festival to take place in Makhanda, Eastern Cape.
Join us on 26 June and 27 June for an exciting program of rieldans and namastap dance music! Featured performers include the award-winning rieldans performer Boeta Gammie from Calvinia, NC and famed Nama songwriter of “Jaloers Bokkie” and creator of the Nama tin guitar Oom Dolly (Sylvester Fortuin) from Steinkopf, NC.
All are welcome to attend. Please be in touch to request complimentary tickets. Tickets at the door are the festival minimum of R20.
Awe! Khoe Sounds from Namaqua
Join celebrated Nama musicians Boeta Gammie & son, Oom Dolly & Oom Bampie, Jaco Julius, and Boetles Gewers for an evening of dance music. This group of musicians form part of a research project called “Sounding Indigenous in South Africa” (SISA). The project consists of academic researchers at Rhodes University, Carleton University and Nelson Mandela University, and Khoe and San scholar-activists who are collaboratively archiving and studying Khoe and San heritage performances of music and dance with communities across the Northern Cape. The SISA project’s archival materials (including photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings) are stored with Indigenous community partners as well as with the International Library of African Music (ILAM) located in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa. These musicians perform Nama stap dance, rieldans, and other dance music genres that combine traditional Khoe and San and contemporary styles.
Friday 26 June, 14:00–15:00 at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature (https://www.amazwi.museum/) performance venue, 25A Worcester Street, Makhanda (Grahamstown), 6139 South Africa
Saturday 27 June, 21:00–22:00 at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature (https://www.amazwi.museum/) performance venue, 25A Worcester Street, Makhanda (Grahamstown), 6139 South Africa
