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| Alex talks music and culture |
“I would define myself as a British South African. I grew up in South Africa but we moved to England when I was eight. My grandparents live in South Africa and my parents were also born there. My mom’s grandmother was Welsh, and my dad’s grandmother was Irish, so I have different cultural elements in my heritage.”
What multicultural aspects are important in your life?
“I absolutely love South African food. One of my favourites is Bobotie, the national dish of South Africa – its curried meat and fruit with an egg topping. I also enjoy Boerewors, which is the traditional South African spicy sausage.”
“I absolutely love South African food. One of my favourites is Bobotie, the national dish of South Africa – its curried meat and fruit with an egg topping. I also enjoy Boerewors, which is the traditional South African spicy sausage.”
Do you have any particular traditions of beliefs that are important to your culture?
“South Africans have close family values. Now I have moved I do miss my family a lot. All my family speak Afrikaans - a language spoken by Dutch South Africans – except for me and my siblings.”
“South Africans have close family values. Now I have moved I do miss my family a lot. All my family speak Afrikaans - a language spoken by Dutch South Africans – except for me and my siblings.”
Are there any South African values you have maintained after moving to the UK?
“In South Africa, I lived in a close knit community and the whole neighbourhood would join together for BBQs. We still have them here in the UK; we even go to the effort of ordering specific South African food and beer online and get it shipped over. We have BBQs in the snow and rain in the UK because we have such a big braai culture.” (Braai is Afrikaans for BBQ.)
“In South Africa, I lived in a close knit community and the whole neighbourhood would join together for BBQs. We still have them here in the UK; we even go to the effort of ordering specific South African food and beer online and get it shipped over. We have BBQs in the snow and rain in the UK because we have such a big braai culture.” (Braai is Afrikaans for BBQ.)
What differences did you notice after moving to the UK?
“It’s different over here in the UK because the houses, to me, are noticeably much smaller than those in South Africa. Houses in South Africa are really big; we used to have maids and gardeners there. There’s a difference of laws as well; playboy is considered illegal in South Africa and they banned a lot of films over there, such as The Exorcist.”
“It’s different over here in the UK because the houses, to me, are noticeably much smaller than those in South Africa. Houses in South Africa are really big; we used to have maids and gardeners there. There’s a difference of laws as well; playboy is considered illegal in South Africa and they banned a lot of films over there, such as The Exorcist.”
Is your music taste heavily influenced by your culture?
“To be honest, my taste in music doesn’t reflect the culture. I think influence isn’t a cultural thing, it’s more what your exposed to and what you enjoy. I don’t listen to African music as regularly as I would with chart stuff.”
“To be honest, my taste in music doesn’t reflect the culture. I think influence isn’t a cultural thing, it’s more what your exposed to and what you enjoy. I don’t listen to African music as regularly as I would with chart stuff.”
Is there a big difference between music in the UK and South Africa?
“There’s such a thing as Afrikaans music, but I don’t like it that much. There aren’t many artists in South Africa; only the really famous acts tend to breakthrough over there, such as Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Music in the UK doesn’t need to be of a national standard to reach the radio.”
“There’s such a thing as Afrikaans music, but I don’t like it that much. There aren’t many artists in South Africa; only the really famous acts tend to breakthrough over there, such as Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Music in the UK doesn’t need to be of a national standard to reach the radio.”
You’ve been playing the guitar for 5 years. What music do you play?
“I tend to play whatever I fancy – mostly rock music by Tool and Metallica. My favourite bands include Muse and Radiohead. I would say my favourite genre is rock and metal; but I do like a range – extending to indie also like Oasis and Biffy Clyro. I have been to an event which combined two contrasting genres of music – it merged reggae with heavy metal which was very interesting.”
“I tend to play whatever I fancy – mostly rock music by Tool and Metallica. My favourite bands include Muse and Radiohead. I would say my favourite genre is rock and metal; but I do like a range – extending to indie also like Oasis and Biffy Clyro. I have been to an event which combined two contrasting genres of music – it merged reggae with heavy metal which was very interesting.”
Finally, what’s your take on multiculturalism?
“To me, multiculturalism is bringing your culture from home and taking it with you wherever you go; trying to merge values from both together.”
“To me, multiculturalism is bringing your culture from home and taking it with you wherever you go; trying to merge values from both together.”
BY HANNAH MONTGOMERY
PHOTO CREDITS - CHLOE JONES
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| Showcasing his musical skills |
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