The Beaufort West Courier, established in 1869, is one of the oldest newspapers in South Africa. A long-ago proprietor, James Bryant, did everything possible to keep townsfolk informed of the very latest in local and world affairs. So, in 1900, the Courier was published as “the first penny daily in the Karoo.” An advert at the time stated: “This paper will be published each morning as soon after the receipt of the latest war telegrams as possible. It is thus an excellent medium for local advertising.”
In 1901, Charles Herbert Crane and Christian Zinn formed the Beaufort West Printing and Publishing Company, and purchased the newspaper from James Bryant. The new owners guaranteed a circulation of 3 500 copies and an eight-page newspaper every Thursday morning in addition to the daily news. They announced that “a great number of orders for advertisements has given us the strength to enlarge the paper.” They also stated that they had arranged an improved hour-to-hour telegraphic news service from Reuters Telegram Company in addition to their links with other news services. The paper had special correspondents in Fraserburg, Fraserburg Road (later Leeu Gamka), Prince Albert, Prince Albert Road, Aberdeen, Williston, Matjiesfontein, Calvinia, Willowmore, Sutherland, Victoria West and Oudtshoorn. It also “at great expense” obtained the services of Ian Cameron, a wellknown London author, journalist and clubman to write an exclusive “London Letter.” Its other extremely popular column, Lumen, provided in-depth coverage on local affairs. In 1901, the annual subscription to the Courier, with all supplements, was 15/-, delivered post free.
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“The Very Live Tour” – Nieu-Bethesda Press Release
For anyone who has not yet spent time in Nieu-Bethesda or experienced the mind-altering beauty of the Great Karoo, “The Very Live Tour” is the perfect opportunity to plan a road-trip to the home of South African ‘outsider art’.
The village of Nieu-Bethesda is situated in a valley in the Sneeuberg Range, 1500 meters above sea level and overshadowed only by the usually winter, snow-capped Compasberg which towers imperviously above the arid expanse of the Great Karoo, “where the land meets the sky”.
This high altitude semi-desert is a nature-lover’s paradise that is home to the largest variety of succulents in the world; as well as eagles, hadehas, sacred ibises, secretary birds, blue cranes, flamingoes, otters, lizards, snakes, tortoises, bat-eared foxes, kudu, springbok, reedbuck, wildebeast, wild cats, ground squirrels and aardvarks.
In times gone by, agriculture was the driving force of Nieu Bethesda’s economy; the region’s Angora goats and Karoo lamb are famous.
Nowadays much of the industry is related to art with various craft shops and galleries, potteries and sculpture gardens – most famously, the late Helen Martins’ amazing, world renowned “Owl House”.
On Saturday the 28th of July, the village will host the sublime talents of two of this country’s finest guitarists when Steve Newman and Greg Georgiades will perform a selection of their original compositions in the Old Church Hall in Martin Street.
Steve Newman is one of South Africa’s most accomplished acoustic guitarist who has achieved unrivalled success as a soloist over the past three decades as well as being an integral part of various collaborations with fellow South African musicians. He has written a history for himself that very few can equal. A consummate instrumentalist, he has traversed the globe with his mesmerizing talent, both as a soloist as well as with the bands Tananas, the Aquarian Quartet, In the Clouds, Mondetta, and a duo with Tony Cox. Tananas has played festivals & concerts in Australia, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, France, Sweden, UK, Spain, Canary Islands, USA, Mozambique, Namibia & Zimbabwe. As a soloist he has played UK, Holland, Belgium, India, UK, Norway, Mozambique & Namibia.
Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades is a multi instrumentalist who plays acoustic nylon string guitar, oud, bouzouki, ukelele and also electric guitar and sarod. He has used these instruments in many thrilling collaborations with various other iconic local musicians across all genres including McCoy Mrubata, Madala Kunene, Errol Dyers, Tony Cox, Syd Kitchen, Marc Duby, Ernest Mothle, Ashish Joshi, Jeff Maluleke, Simphiwe Dana, Julian Bahula, Mlungisi Gegana, Kevin Davidson, Khaya Mahlangu, Zamo Mbutho, Lungile Dlamini and many more with whom he has performed and recorded included Miriam Makeba and of course Steve Newman.
Together these two consummate performers are known for their dynamic harmonies and melodic adventures that have transported audiences across the length and breadth of the country on a spicy, sonic journey of rhythmical delight that is sure to leave you thrilled and rejuvenated.
Tickets for the performance are R100 and bookings can be made by phoning 049 841 1642 or 072 742 7113. For information about accommodation and meals please log onto http://www.nieu-bethesda.com
So whether your interest is music, art, bushman paintings, fossils, climbing, hiking, bird-watching, mountain-biking, horse-riding, game-viewing, star-gazing or just sitting on the stoep watching the world pass by, you’ll never be at a loss for things to do in Nieu B