by Thinus Ferreira
A new kykNET documentary, Kerkorrel: 20 jaar later, is looking back at the life, legacy and impact of the Afrikaans music icon Johannes Kerkorrel on Sunday night at 20:30 on kykNET (DStv 144) two decades after his death.
Johannes Kerkorrel, real name Ralph John Rabie, died on 12 November 2002, and on Sunday night 13 November kykNET is looking at the man, his music and its impact 20 years later, in the Afrikaans documentary, Kerkorrel: 20 jaar later, made by producer and director Niel van Deventer.
"While I
was busy making a documentary on the life and music of Koos du Plessis, I
listened to Kerkorrel's recordings of Koos Doep's songs,” says Niel van
Deventer.
"I
realised that it has been twenty years since his death and even though there were
tributes after his death, it didn't look at the impact he had. I reached out to
his son, Reuben, and met with Waldimar Pelser, head of kykNET, in June and mentioned
it to him."
"Waldimar saw the potential of the project and I am grateful that
Palama Production could produce the documentary with kykNET's support."
Besides son Reuben talking about his father who was born on 27 March
1960, other friends in the music industry share their memories of him, including Amanda Strydom, Karen Meiring, Stef Bos and Valiant Swart.
Willem Möller
and Jannie Hanepoot van Tonder, Kerkorrel's bandmates in the Gereformeerde Blues
Band, are also part of the documentary.
"We had a
long list of people that we wanted to talk to, but we only had an hour to fit
it all in," says Neil. "In the end we spoke to people who were part of his life
in different stages of his life and career."
Neil
thinks Kerkorrel's biggest heritage is that he planted a seed with Afrikaners
to start asking questions.
"Some of our biggest heroes in the struggle for the
truth have been journalists. That is also part of Kerkorrel's heritage. And as
an artist, he will always be known for timeless songs like Hillbrow, Hoe ek
voel and Halala Afrika.
Niel says "people are quick to forget and then repeat the mistakes of the past".
"People forget, or never knew, what these guys had to give up to do what they
have done. They also forget that the good old days weren’t that great, but they
long to go back to that time and that brings hate and division. Apart from that,
we must also never forget what an immensely talented singer and songwriter he
was."
