Antoinette Pienaar

(1961- ) Singer, songwriter, storyteller, actress and herbalist.

Biography

Born in born in Beaufort West, grew up in Carnavon and studied drama at the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town.

Contribution to South African theatre and performance

A trained actress, singer and storyteller, she was involved in the launch the Afrikaans "Kabaret" tradition in South Africa through her work with authors, composers and directors such as Etienne van Heerden, Hennie Aucamp, Anthony Costandius, Herman Pretorius and Jannie Hofmeyr in Stellenbosch. For example she performed in Ekskuus vir die Wals (a cabaret by Etienne van Heerden) and 3-D ( a cabaret by Anthony Constandius) for the Libertas Theatre Club in 1984, and ** (a cabaret by Hennie Aucamp) for the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in 198*.

From this she developed her own style of writing and musical performance, a kind of musical storytelling which made her a unique presence in the theatre of the 1990s. Working with her own group (***) for a while, she then met and worked with musician and composer Derek Fordyce from 19** to 19**, to develop shows like Krotoa (1995), Allie anner Vrouens (1996) and Die Gariep Roep (1996).

In 2000 she began working with ***, to create *** and **, Vuur innie water (Groot Marico Kunstefees, 2002);

Herbalist

In 2001, severely weakened after contracting cerebral malaria in West Africa, she returned to the Beaufort West region to settle on Theefontein, a sheep farm owned by her second cousin Jacques Pienaar.

Travelling from there to perform on occasion, she also began a seven year apprenticeship with the legendary oom ("uncle") Johannes Willemse, a traditional healer. In 2003 she began broadcasting throughts and ideas about healing Karoo herbs in a the popular health programme called Kruie kraai koning (lit "herbs are king") on Friday afternoons, as a contribution to Amore Bekker's Tjailatyd ("going home time") on the Afrikaans radio station Radiosondergrense ("radio without boundaries", RSG). (The programme also has a website.) In 20** she published a book with Umuzi (Random House Struik) about the health benefits of Karoo herbs, called Kruitjie Roer My (literally "Little herb move me", named after a plant called "kruitjie roer my nie"). An English version, called The Griqua's Apprentice - Ancient healing arts of the Karoo is due in 2014.

Sources

http://www.kruiekraaikoning.co.za/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoinette_Pienaar

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