South Africa's musical spirit alive an well in Oppi-land

It could've been that many were trying to stretch that warm feeling of togetherness we all experienced during the football tournament by going to the festival in the first place. Certainly thousands of fun lovers had the same idea, because 2010's "Sexy.Crooked.Teeth" was the first sold out Oppikoppi in history.

Evolution of the festival

The last time I went was in 1999 during my first year of varsity and it was interesting to see how much the festival had evolved in 11 years. The Kreef Hotel was a big feature and seemed to be the place where the older crowd, and those less willing to rough it, put themselves up for the night. There was an ATM, hydration stations, a merchandise shop, more variety in food stalls (including a juice bar and a biltong stand), a music photo gallery, clothing and accessory stalls, and a cellphone-charging station (compliments of Cell C). The festival appeared to be less hippy and more stylish - there was a definite focus on providing ample comfort and catering to a broader audience.

Four stages, namely the James Phillips Mane Stage, Levi's Bushveld Originals Stage, FHM Most Amazing Myn Stage, and the Red Bull Studio Stage rocked and pulsed from (reasonably) early in the day till the wee hours of the next morning.

A large variety of music tastes

Radio Kalahari Orkes

There was a smorgasbord of of live musical acts on offer: country, hip hop, rock, rap, folk, blues, punk, metal, dance, jazz, indie, experimental, boeremusiek - you name it, it was there. A wide range of sounds to cater to a large variety of music tastes, cultures and eclectic people; exactly what our country is about and what makes us so unique. And, truth be told, I've never seen such a mixture of instruments together in one place either: saxophone, bongos, electric mandolin, upright bass, harmonica, trumpet, flute, violin, the list goes on.

Watching the Radio Kalahari Orkes performing on Sunday night made me think that these guys may very well have struck the perfect chord in uniting a diverse country such as ours through music - in their song Blaas jou Vuvuzela specifically. Through using traditional boeremusiek as a basis, the band incorporates the fast-growing popularity of Afrikaans "zef" rap (with the infamous Jack Parow) all the while singing an ode to our first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela.

Valiant Swart

Valiant Swart

Deservedly, South Africa's Mystic Boer, Valiant Swart, was this year's commemorated artist. He was not only one of the first musicians to have performed at Oppikoppi, but has been rocking the country for some 20 years.

Vusi Mahlasela, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Albert Frost, Tamara Dey, and Van Coke Kartel were just a few of the acts paying him homage during the event.

It's as Valiant's song declares, "Die meeste mense is maar lekker zef" and Oppikoppi successfully pays tribute to all the idiosyncrasies, quirks, and crazy characteristics of the beautifully assorted people that make up our proud nation.

For more information, go to www.oppikoppi.co.za

My Sexy. Crooked. Teeth experience in brief

Hot Water

Sexiest part: Durex handing out bright pink "pleasuremax" condoms with sachets of cherry-flavoured lube.
Crookedest part: The state of some tents after a few days (and nights) of too much Jose Cuervo.
Teethiest part: The whole festival - it's been ages since I've done so much smiling!

Photography by Schalk Groenewald from Pawz www.pawz.co.za

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