Kaatje Kekkelbek or Life Among the Hottentots

A sketch in verse and prose, in the form of a "comic song", by Andrew Geddes Bain and George Rex. (Though the father George Rex, was long seen as the author, Ludwig Binge - 1969, pp3-4 - argues convincingly for the son, Andrew Rex.) There is also some uncertainty about the first performed Grahamstown, with both Laidler (1925) and Fletcher (1991) saying 25 October 1838, Du Toit 5 November 1839, and F.C.L. Bosman arguing that at the earliest it could have been in 1844. First published in Sam Sly’s Journal Space 1846, also reproduced in Bosman (1928) pp. 541-543 and in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Geddes_Bain).

Generally accepted as the first piece of performed stage writing incorporating "kitchen-Dutch", or Afrikaans. Very popular and apparently performed a number of times over the years, esp. between 1834 and 1843. Possibly also in Cape Town (see P.W. Laidler, 1926). The central character of "Caatje Kekelbek" (or "Kaatje Kekkelbek", as she is more commonly known today), the fiery and articulate housemaid, has become a stock figure in a number of South African works over the years, including plays by Stephen Black and Guy Butler. (See further Binge pp 4-5 for the general influence of this song, especially on the Afrikaans literary and playwriting tradition.)

Full text

There are a number of versions of the original text apparently. The following version is the one published as Appendix X in his 1928 by F.C.L. Bosman, in his history of South African theatre:

My name is Kaatje Kekkelbek,

I come from Kat Rivier,

Daar’s van water geen gebrek,

But scarce of wine and beer.

Myn A B C at Philip's school

I learnt a kleine beetje,

But left it just as great a fool

As gekke Tante Meitje.

Sources

http://www.thegreatkaroo.com/page/andrew_geddes_bain

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

Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge. 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

P.J. du Toit. 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg: p.

P.W. Laidler. 1926. The Annals of the Cape Stage. Edinburgh: William Bryce: p.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page