On Saturday 12 January, visitors and townsfolk were given even more reason to be in Nieu-Bethesda - a live performance by the well-known singer and story-teller Vusi Mahlasela who has shared stages with international stars such as Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Josh Groban, Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Hugh Masekela.
Vusi was in the village by invite of German friends who own a home here and agreed to give a live performance at no cost to the audience. The street in front of the Owl House was turned into an impromptu theatre as people brought chairs, umbrella's and blankets for the performance.
The stoep of the Karoo Lamb Restaurant served as the stage.
A marathon performance of two and a half hours followed, with the audience being treated to songs such as Weeping, Say Africa, Conjecture of the Hour, Ntate Mandela and even Die Donkie is 'n Wonderlike Ding.
Halfway through the concert Vusi discarded his shirt to reveal a T-shirt with an anti-fracking logo and expressed his grave concern at the impact which fracking will have on the Karoo.
"To the big companies it's all about money, money, money and we must let our voices be heard against this fracking," he emphasised.
The fact that the concert continued for a full hour after Vusi announced his "last song" proves that the synergy between artist and audience was unbelievable. The large audience was made up of locals, visitors from towns as far as Pretoria and Oudtshoorn as well as a number of tourists from abroad. One young couple from Johannesburg, who were unaware of the concert and stayed an extra night to attend, described their visit to Nieu-Bethesda and the unexpected concert as the highlight of their whole holiday.
Once again the people of Nieu-Bethesda have proven that a visit to their village and the surrounding area, which includes Graaff Reinette, is an event which could change ones life.
The street in front of the Karoo Lamb Restaurant, opposite the Owl House was turned into a sunset theatre as people from all over showed up to attend the free Vusi Mahlasela concert.
