Ghoema

David Kramer

theatre

Ghoema

Iaminawe created 2 minutes of animation for the new David Kramer & Taliep Pieterson production "Ghoema" that features a San rock painting of a dutch galleon slowly become a real one that sails through the symbols of slavery history.

David Kramer has once again joined forces with long-time musical partner Taliep Petersen to create an exciting new musical revue called GHOEMA that celebrates and explores our musical heritage. Delving deep into early South African history at the Cape, the revue explores the roots of slave music as far back as 1650 - 1795, the heyday of the mighty Dutch East India Company which had an enormous influence on the lives of all people under its rule. The slaves that the Company brought to the Cape from countries as far as Indonesia, India, Madagascar, and Java had an enormous impact on the settlement here. They influenced a cross-pollination of lifestyles, music, language and culture between themselves, the indigenous people, the Dutch and other European settlers.

The fusion of all these influences into something that is uniquely South African, is the inspiration behind GHOEMA. ( A ghoema is a drum made from a small wine vat, with a skin stretched tightly over one end. It was created by the slaves and is still used today.)

For an interesting interview with David about the production have a read at theatre.com. For a local review of its run at Cape Town's Baxter theatre Tonight newspaper review should do it and catch up with how it went at its recent opening on London's West End.