At the Borderline 1: Gift to the nation

From march 16 through March 26, 2007, a delegation of VLAMO (BE) travelled to South Africa. Geert Vanmaeckelberghe (President Artistic Committee Drum, Percussion, Pipebands and Showbands), Filip Santy (Director) and Michel Willé (General President) extensively took knowledge of the structure and the operation, the strategy and mission of the Field Band Foundation. Chief Executive Retha Cilliers guided the three Vlamo representatives through the Rainbownation. She did this with passion and respect.

Written by Geert Vanmaeckelberghe
Translation: Hans Kloppert

Retha Cilliers was born in South Africa, a far descendant of the French Huguenots, which settled in 'Franschhoek' some 300 years ago. In 1984 she left for Bilbao in Spain to work as a professional musician. Shortly after Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 she returned to her motherland. "In South Africa about 4 to 6 million people live on the edge of society: At the Borderline" as Retha Cilliers put it. "These people live at the borderline - children have few opportunities, poor education and live in socially challenged societies. There are no youth activities, no discos, no shops. There is no entertainment and children spend their time in the streets, are bored and obvious targets for gangs and the criminal element. The unemployment rates are very high and wherever there is poverty and a shortage of education... that's where criminality starts."


A dedicated Retha continues: "It has always been my dream to do something for these kids and now, through my input in the Field Band Foundation, I see my dream become reality." The AIDS epidemics has spread across the country explosively. In 1990 one percent of pregnant women appeared to be infected with the HIV-virus. Today this is anything between 19 and 26%. The United Nations estimates that 21,5% of the population between the ages of 15 and 49 is HIV positive. Every day about 1,000 South Africans die because of this terrible disease. A lot of children have lost their parents. In 1997 Ronnie and Bertie Lubner founded the FBF as a 'Gift to the Nation'. Momentarily the FBF is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a non-profit organization which gives children from the townships life values through music. The FBF arms children with social skills and enhance their chances to a future worthy of a human being.


Through music children learn about discipline, respect, honesty, playing together and about time management. The children learn about the HIV/AIDS prevention and other health issues. A choice was made for showband ensembles, since this form of making music is attractive to children. A Fieldband consists of a brass section, field percussion and a front field percussion ensemble with African marimbas and steel drums. Dancers support the visual programme. Some Fieldbands have a color guard with flags. The style is neither European nor traditional or corps style. Fieldbands have adopted a South African style and want to experience music and show their own way.


Currently the organization has started 30 Fieldbands in which about 3700 children from 233 schools in 93 different townships are active. The average unemployment rate among parents is 48%. One set of instruments is used by 2 different bands on different days. The 15 sets of instruments are transported between the townships by 15 additional vehicles. The bands rehearse in the local school. They don't have a bandhall or clubhouse. They practice on the field, therefore the name Field band. After rehearsal the instruments are loaded into the truck and are kept in safe places. During the summer months the bands rehearse twice a week from 3 to 6 after school and in winter from 3 to 5.