KAROO NEWS - Funnyman and musician Gino Fabbri set out to bring people together through music and laughter during a recent tour of the Eastern Cape, but discovered that the region’s hospitality was just as memorable as the performances.
His visit to Graaff-Reinet, the Gem of the Karoo, proved to be a highlight of the heritage-themed journey, which took him through several towns in the province during September.
Even before reaching the town, Fabbri was stopped by a motorist who wanted to take photographs with him and his wife. At My SPAR Spandau, he was welcomed by a crowd and braai fires already burning.
After setting up his drum kit, Fabbri launched into his popular Evolution of Afro House medley. Classic-rock favourites and familiar old-school beats soon joined the mix, turning the supermarket parking area into an impromptu concert filled with music and dancing.
One of the memorable moments of his Graaff-Reinet visit was meeting Chief Daantjie Japhta, leader of the Khoikhoi Inqua tribe, who explained the significance of his cheetah-pattern cloak.
“You need to wear the skin of the animal in your area,” Japhta said. “But, because there are so few cheetahs around, we improvise [by wearing an imitation].”
Spandau owner Frikkie Coetzee said Fabbri, who describes himself as a 56-year-old pale male wearing short pants and long socks, had played an important role in bringing people from different backgrounds together.
The visit formed part of a tour supported by SPAR Eastern Cape, which began along the Sunshine Coast before heading inland and eventually towards the Garden Route.
In Nxuba, Fabbri’s speed-cop character teamed up spontaneously with a young rapper at SUPERSPAR Tams. Fabbri supplied the rhythm through beatboxing while the youngster responded with a series of rhymes.
At SuperSpar Protea in Komani, women dressed in traditional attire joined the entertainer in an energetic display of music and dance, matching his movements as the supermarket became a lively celebration.
Fabbri said the crowds and enthusiasm he encountered throughout the tour had exceeded his expectations.
“I expected people to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect the crowds,” he said. “Music just brings people together.” He said the positive response from people across different communities had been particularly rewarding. “When people see someone dressed up as a boertjie and respond, it means they are willing to try new things.”
The journey also gave Fabbri the opportunity to collect local ingredients for a special dish inspired by the heritage and food traditions of the towns he visited. These included smoked wors from Graaff-Reinet, Karoo lamb from Nxuba and beef burger patties from Komani.
For Fabbri, the experience reinforced his belief that South Africa’s diverse cultures should be celebrated throughout the year, not only during heritage events.
“The wave of beautiful comments I have received has blown me away. We’ve really struck a chord with [the] people [of the Eastern Cape],” he said.
His Karoo visit showed that while he may have arrived to entertain, the warmth of the welcome was something he would take with him long after the music stopped.
When Gino Fabbri beat the drums, the people of the Karoo came running during his Heritage Tour of the region. Photo: Elijah Nell
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