GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Top storyteller Gertjie Odendaal from Swellendam says weekdays he works at the farmers' co-operative and weekends he "talks nonsense". His masterful storytelling has made him a regular guest performer on Afrikaans storytelling television series Spies en Plessie and Maak 'n Las and he can currently be seen in OppieStoep.
Telling jokes is his "lifelong talent", he said.
On Saturday night 14 Desember, the 58-year-old Oom Gertjie as he is known, will perform at the Odendaal festival in Buffeljags River where more than 100 members of the Odendaal family, mostly from all over the Southern Cape, but also from Gauteng, the Free State and Kwa-Zulu Natal, will get together.
It's being held at the Chris-Elle resort on the banks of the river, looking out on the Langeberge. There's plenty braai space, lawns and a swimming pool.
Gertjie will entertain the group during a big spit braai. "I really enjoy making people laugh. I love people. I'm going to tell a couple of stories while we sit around the fire," he said.
The festival organiser, Comie Rademan, said people are excited to get to know new relatives and meet up with relatives they haven't seen for a while. She extends a warm invitation to all Odendaals in the area who would like to attend the festival to book by the latest tomorrow 5 December. "We don't want anyone to feel left out.
There's enough accommodation available in the area," said Rademan, who is one of 10 children of former Heidelberg town clerk Thys "Dads" Odendaal.
On Friday night, emeritus applied mathematics professor at Stellenbosch University and award-winning researcher of family histories, Gerhard Geldenhuys, will present a talk about the Odendaal family.
He will speak about the progenitors of the Odendaals, the way in which their descendants spread across the country and the various contributions they made as farmers, academics, doctors, ministers and politicians.
On Sunday night, Carols by Candlelight will be held at the Drostdy museum in Swellendam.
On Sunday morning, the sought-after pianist Liza Joubert, for whom the Koos Kombuis song Lisa se Klavier was written, and her son Gerhard will perform classical music, including Bach, Brahms and Schubert. Liza, a former Drakensberg Boys' Choir accompanist, is one of 38 grandchildren of Thys "Dads" Odendaal.
To register for the Odendaal festival, please contact Comie on 072 179 2548 or pico@wispernet.co.za.
Liza Joubert, for whom the Koos Kombuis song Lisa se Klavier was written, is also an Odendaal descendant and she and her son Gerhard will perform classical music at the Odendaal festival.
Emeritus professor and award-winning researcher of family histories, Gerhard Geldenhuys, will present a talk about the Odendaal family. He is pictured here with his wife Anneline.
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