Freshly Ground's lead singer Zolani Mahola is hardly the face of Afrikaans music, but her ability to cross genres and audiences won her a Kanna award from the organisers of the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival.
In their citation, the organisers said Mahola, who has collaborated with Karen Zoid, Nick Turner, Laurika Rauch and Dorothy Masuka at the KKNK, "is not just a proud export from our country, but is also an ambassador of our festival".
The awards ceremony will be held in Cape Town next month. Other recipients of the awards this year include actresses Sandra Prinsloo and Shaleen Surtie-Richards, entertainer Nataniel, and Franklin Sonn, who has worked with the festival for years.
"It means a heck of a lot to me.
"There are so many territories in South Africa and the Afrikaans market is hard to crack if you're not Afrikaans-speaking," Mahola said of her award.
She teamed up with Zoid for two shows at the festival this year. The pair played a mix of their own songs, as well as songs they say they wish they had written, such as Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back and Brenda Fassie's Weekend Special .
When Zoid played her hit Afrikaners is Pleserig , Mahola launched into a Xhosa translation.
Said Mahola: "Karen and I have been playing together for years and I'm quite warmed by the reaction to the show."
Springbok Nude Girls and Gangs of Ballet are performing at the festival's Kaktus op die Flaktus party tonight.
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