Cape Town – Two English lecturers have written a biography of Afrikaans music veteran David Kramer that will be released in November.
Dawid de Villiers and Mathilda Slabbert have produced a book that is being described as "well thought out, utterly complete and quite timely".
Their work on the book started four years ago."Dawid was initially wary of the idea to write a celeb-biography," says Slabbert. "We started out by analysing each one of his songs in order for Kramer to see what we were planning. The move came when we realised that his life story aught to be included as the foundation of the book."
Two writers collaborating on a book, do pose challenges, but De Villiers and Slabbert say that they worked together so closely that the one started thinking like the other.
"I think the reader will be able to hear both our voices. We have different personalities, but the book is ours together."
Bringing cultures together
"From the outset David Kramer brought so many cultures together. He searched for common aspects and opened doors. He allowed Afrikaans to become more than merely a politically divisive language," De Villiers notes.
Slabbert adds: "What I admire about him (David Kramer) is that his standpoint has always been that we should celebrate the local. We aught to admire that which surrounds us, that with which we grew up with."
David Kramer: ’n Biografie will be released by Tafelberg. The book will be available in English and Afrikaans. The official launch will be hosted at Exclusive Books in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on November 22.
Dawid de Villiers and Mathilda Slabbert have produced a book that is being described as "well thought out, utterly complete and quite timely".
Their work on the book started four years ago."Dawid was initially wary of the idea to write a celeb-biography," says Slabbert. "We started out by analysing each one of his songs in order for Kramer to see what we were planning. The move came when we realised that his life story aught to be included as the foundation of the book."
Two writers collaborating on a book, do pose challenges, but De Villiers and Slabbert say that they worked together so closely that the one started thinking like the other.
"I think the reader will be able to hear both our voices. We have different personalities, but the book is ours together."
Bringing cultures together
"From the outset David Kramer brought so many cultures together. He searched for common aspects and opened doors. He allowed Afrikaans to become more than merely a politically divisive language," De Villiers notes.
Slabbert adds: "What I admire about him (David Kramer) is that his standpoint has always been that we should celebrate the local. We aught to admire that which surrounds us, that with which we grew up with."
David Kramer: ’n Biografie will be released by Tafelberg. The book will be available in English and Afrikaans. The official launch will be hosted at Exclusive Books in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on November 22.