Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa

Subject: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 06:40 PM

OK, we know the Aussie, Canadian and US frontiers shared UK language and culture, shared types of events--like gold rushes and cattle drives--shared some individual miners, etc., and therefore shared songs. When gold was found in the old "Union of South Africa," the same scenes must have been repeated. But compared to the (relative) ease with which I can learn something about the forenamed people, including the Celtic component, Africa is a blank. Surely not everyone who went to the Rand to moil for gold was tone deaf. Anybody know what they were singin in Natal in 1890?

Subject: RE: Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 08:10 PM

Interesting question. The only white South African folk songs I've ever come across have been Afrikaans, but there must have been others. I know there were Irish who fought on the Boer side in the Boer war (and others on the British side).

Here is a site that might lead you somewhere - "the Labyrinth of East London Lore" in the Eastern Cape.

Subject: RE: Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 07:47 PM

This isn't exactly a folksong, but maybe it's relevant - The Boers have got my Daddy - from a New Zealand site.

Subject: RE: Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: GUEST,#1
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 12:21 AM

Nobody heard of Marais and Miranda?

Subject: RE: Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 12:41 AM

Sure it isn't about bears, McG? :0)

Subject: RE: Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 09:34 AM

Marais and Miranda weren't around in the 1890s.

Yup, and it's a shame about the bears. I might write it anyway someday.

Subject: RE: Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 02:58 PM

McGrath, let me say 'thank you' just before this thread totally unravels. I messaged that guy, who hasn't answered me yet. That means he's either decided to do a doctoral dissertation or else he's decided I'm terminally looney. If I ever hear from him, I'll let you know.

Chicken Charlie

Subject: RE: Help: Anglo/British Trad Tunes in S. Africa
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 06:56 PM

I know that quite a lot of the Uitlanders who went to South Africa digging for gold and so forth actually came from America (including quite a few of the Irish who fought on the Boer side) - so I'd have thought that the kind of songs that were around in mining camps in South Africa would have been much the same as on the Klondike, where I imagine some of the miners would have previously been.