'Don't let our music die'

2008-09-24 16:18

Duncan Alfreds

Cape Town - As South Africans celebrated Heritage Day, News24 spoke to African tradition music artist, Dizu Plaatjies about what heritage means to him.

"I've been playing traditional music for 40 years and it fits with culture hand in glove," says Plaatjies.

The Head of African Music at the University of Cape Town, Plaatjies specialises in the mouth bow and Uhagi (bow) and is concerned about the state of traditional music.

"The music of the people is slowly dying," he says. "There are very few people who play these instruments and we don't get the respect we deserve in our country."

He laments the fact that, as far as he is concerned, traditional musicians are only remembered on Heritage Day and he feels that it's not enough.

"The government isn't doing enough to help us. Our music is only remembered once a year and in the meantime, it's dying."

Little space for traditional music

"Western music has taken up radio and TV and there's very little space for traditional music," he adds.

Plaatjies has performed African traditional music in Europe and he says that it's "very sad" that he appears to be more well-known there than in South Africa.

"In France, Holland and Scandinavian countries, I get more respect than in my own country. This music is our music, our culture, but no one cares."

"We don't get booked to play at big events and festivals - people just ignore us."

- News24