Report FBF National Championships: 'Sala Sentle!'

"I was invited by the Field Band Foundation to come and stay in South Africa from September 24 through 30 september 2007 and attend the National Championships. Having the opportunity to assist preparing for the National Championships for Field Bands in Johannesburg and giving input in judging Visual has been a unique experience for me." A report by Geert Vanmaeckelberghe. Translation: Hans Kloppert.

 
Monday, 24th September 2007
 
An impressive number of 127 international guests are expected this week. A large delegation from Norway (NMF and Fredskorpset) but also well-known representatives from the DCI world-top: Brian Hickman (Glassmen), Roman Blenski (Pioneer) and Dave Gibbs (Blue Devils). Peter Jan de Werk (CGN), Edwin Beens and Henk Smit (Kunstfactor) from the Netherlands. I am put to work right away at the Field Band Foundation Headquarters preparing information-packages for everyone invited. At 3PM I quit and went to bed. The intercontinental flight got to me. According to the FBF staff I look 22,... but I am definitely 44... age doesn't lie!

 
Tuesday, 25th September 2007
 
James Collins a Harvard graduate from the United States joins me in the guest house. He will be following the field band foundation closely for the next year and produce  documentaries on the activity.
 
Today we're driving into Soweto and we're visiting the Kagosi & Dobsonville Field Band which is preparing for the Championships. The rehearsal site is a poorly maintained open field, which in Europe we would have a very hard time drawing our musicians to.  The rehearsal doesn't run smoothly, no noticeable structure. I chat with some of the musicians and I find out there is a lack of confidence and dedication. By giving them a portion of competition-philosophy I try to motivate them and give them a boost.  Ntswaki Primrose Moja is seventeen years old and plays the steel drums.


I ask her some questions: Why do you play in a field band? "Love for the band and passion for making Music', she tells me all excited. This means the world to her.  I love the children and the energy I get from making music."

What are your plans for the future? "Oh... there's so much... But there's one thing I would really like to do wit hall my heart, which is running a field band. But this should be a powerful field band that works hard. I am someone who works hard, I believe this is possible. Right now I study science and biology,.. .one needs a 'plan B' in life.  I believe in myself. If it had been up to my parents I could have left this field band already. They say I don't work enough at home and spend too much of my time on the field band. I reason with them and convince them that the field band is my everything and is very important for my future."
 
Ntswaki says goodbye and greets mee in 'Setswana', her mother tongue and one of the 11 official languages of the Rainbownation: 'SALA SENTLE!' which means 'Take Care and goodbye'.


Wednesday, 26th September 2007
 
Dinner in the headquarters of sponsor Investec. A massed pit percussion ensemble treats the guest to a  performance. The members enter with their eyes wide open from surprise through the entrance hall decorated with marble.


Thursday, 27th September 2007
 
An International meeting (CGN, Kunstfactor, Vlamo and DCI) at the Field Band Foundation Headquarters. The FBF thinks highly of the attitude and discipline in the drumcorps scène and would like to see the same results with their own groups but with their own artistic interpretation on the field. Brian Hickman (Glassmen director) is alll ears during the presentation on the vision of the FBF. He is open to absorb everything this week and not only with 'DCI eyes' but fully respecting the uniqueness of the FBF.


Friday, 28th September 2007
 
When we enter the 'Turffontein Renbaan' I can't believe my eyes. The competition field is dry and ready to be used. A few days ago we had to stop hanging the banners at the field because of severe storm and rain. The field looked like a large lake. Together with Edwin Beens I check the field. We concluded the National Championships, in which some 1800 kids participate, would not be spoilt because of the rain. The First Division â?? for bands that were formed less than two years ago â?? can take the field for competition.

'De Beers Musina Field Band' from  Musina only started five months ago and managed to seriously stun us all! Dressed in blue with several colourful accents they enter the field confidently and put a good production on the field. The 'Ekapa De Beers Field Band' from Kimberley however wins this competition.


Saturday, 29th September 2007

In the Turffontein Renbaan we are welcomed with coffee and cake. I have some time to meet with a representative of the Flemish Government in South Africa as scheduled. This meeting gives me hope. Let the competition for senior field bands (9) begin!  

A representative of the South African Givernment announces the government will from now on  support the youth bands. Whatever this might include remains vague to me. It's a fact that today the Field Band Foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary after a period without support from the government.

The 'PFG Londulusha Field Band' from Springs has a remarkably good show. The band is not a top-3 contender but has a potential to grow in the future.

The 'PG Black Like Me Field Band' from Kagiso and Dobsonville Soweto is performing much better than when we saw them at their recent rehearsal (see part #1). With their black and white jackets, bow-ties, suspenders and caps they have a jazzy look. The performance is is not very confident, the children look timid but according to me there is no need to. The musical repertoire is varied, includes vocal parts and an up-tempo ending. The finale in their show does not have that sparkling touch however. It is almost as if they don't  believe in themselves.

The favourite 'De Beers Superstone' Field Band from Kimberley took  'Wake Up'. As the theme of their production. Dressed in pyjamas and flip-flops they wrao the crowd around their fingers with a clean cut intro. The interaction with the audience and the band shows excellent showmanship.


I thoroughly enjoy the 'Mdantsane Field Band' from East-London. They really thought of everything. Their uniforms are black, white and yellow uniforms make them look mature. A very nice choreography, continuously flowing. The demand in some of the drill sets is similar to what we see in Europe. The band has a correct style in body posture and position of the instruments.

The 'PG Bison Buccaneers Field Band' from Durban effectively puts the South-African style in their show. The production contains a lot of their own tradition and culture. The uniform is beautiful, the instruments are decorated with zulu items. Their dancers, a large group, are the cream on the cake. They shine and smile, project emotion and energy right into the main stands. They combine this with singing, traditional dance and the original clothing. The entire front sideline percussion enters the field at one time in the show. With their programme concept 'Culture at its Best' they are the National Champion First Division 2007.


During the awards ceremony the 'PG Bison Buccaneers' take just about all the caption awards. I just wonder if the bands are ready for this, is giving out caption awards is a good thing here. In the background I see the skyline of Jo'burg, which form a beautiful backdrop for the event. Shiny, high office building , hotel complexes and highways. A major contrast is the enormous pile of garbage (dump) which almost touches the left side of the 'Turffontein Renbaan' competition field. Here on the grass, which is home for the horses race, where rich people place bets and where gambling is a common thing., the field band foundation offer kids from poor homes an opportunity to perform.

Looking around me brings me right back to reality. Outside the stadium it's a very tough world and these kids can definitely do with a little extra callous on their hands.


Sunday, 30th September 2007 (Better every day!)

Roman Blenski, executive director of Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps (USA) treats us to a delicious pizza dinner. We toast to the future and promise him that whenever we think of Pioneer it will always bring us a positive feeling. Honestly I don't need a pizza for this. Just talking to this pioneer of the exchange programme his corps has with the field band show shows me a good person, and great man. More of these people and the world will be better,... Better every day!
 
Geert Vanmaeckelberghe
Useful links: www.fieldband.nl, www.fieldband.org.za