Keystone State Boychoir
A Program of Commonwealth Youthchoirs
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Piet Retief and the Battlefields Route
For the first two weeks of the tour, KSB will actually be travelling in a comma-shaped route around Johannesburg. In driving these roads in the north-eastern region of South Africa, KSB will explore the “Battlefields Route” where many of the battles of the Boer Wars occurred.
But, there is a reason why this area was so highly contested! It’s beautiful, hospitable to plants and animals, and has easy access to the Indian Ocean shipping routes. Including Piet Retief, here are some of the cities and sites we may see:
Bloemfontien
Locally known as the “city of roses”, Bloemfontien is the economic and commercial center of the Free State (a central province in South Africa). The people of Bloemfontien are hospitable and value family time. There are many cultures and backgrounds in this city and the city continues to grow and be a cultural hub. Within the city of Bloemfontien, you will find parks, a zoo, fantastic restaurants, markets, and incredulous gardens. The ANC – African National Congress – was created here in 1912.
Bloemfontien was also the birthplace of J.R.R. Tolkien!
Piet Retief is the only town in the world situated in a giant pothole. If you go to Google Earth, and zoom in to Mpumalanga, you’ll find that Piet Retief represents the part that looks like an impressionist painting! (Written by the director of the Highveld Youthchoir)
Ladysmith is known in South Africa for having sustained a 118 day siege during the Second Boer War. Both Winston Churchill and Mohatma Ghandi were present at the end of the siege of Ladysmith in 1900. Founded in the 1850’s, the town was actually named for Lady Juana Maria de los Dolores de Leon Smith, the wife of Cape Colony Governor Lord Harry Smith. Perhaps oddly, its most recognizable building is a Sufi Mosque.
However, Ladysmith is best known to us for the vocal musical ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo. A member of the group says,“[our music] helped people connect to [South Africans] as a people and culture, and not just as a nation that was suffering… Music knows no boundaries, and our nation’s music rode the sky and seas, and connected us to the peoples of the world. In a way, it brought everyone to South Africa and allowed them to see, hear and feel what we were.”
Blood River (battlefield)
The battle of Blood River was fought between 470 Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 10,000–15,000 Zulu attackers on the bank of the Ncome River on 16 December 1838. The Voortrekkers prevailed though the river was red with the blood of the Zulu attackers. The day has been celebrated variously throughout South African history. Today it is the holiday “Day of Reconciliation”.
Concert with **Highveld Youth Choir**
On July 14th, KSB will perform in a joint concert with the Highveld Youth Choir. They are a community based choir of about 50 boys and girls, SATB.
More resources
Battlefields Route Tourism
Bloemfontien
Bloemfontien Tourism
Winston Churchill – War Correspondent
Ladysmith History and the Boer War
Ladysmith KwaZulu-Natal Province
The Green Horse in Ladysmith (Googlebook)
Piet Retief