Die Grafsteensangers (the tombstone singers) is a comical entertainment group in South Africa. The 12 members of the group, with ages varying between 18 and 83, sing mostly old Afrikaans songs with straight faces and in old costumes.
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and, to a lesser extent, Botswana and Zimbabwe. It evolved from the Dutch vernacular of South Holland spoken by the mainly Dutch settlers of what is now South Africa, where it gradually began to develop distinguishing characteristics in the course of the 18th century. Hence, it is a daughter language of Dutch, and was previously referred to as "Cape Dutch" or "kitchen Dutch". However, it is also variously described as a creole or as a partially creolised language. The term is ultimately derived from Dutch Afrikaans-Hollands meaning "African Dutch".
They have produced four CDs, one video and one DVD, and have performed at all the major Afrikaans arts festivals: Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), Aardklop, Innibos, Volksbladfees, Suidoosterfees and UKkasie - a former Afrikaans art festival in London.
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is an Afrikaans language arts festival that takes place yearly in the South African town of Oudtshoorn. The festival includes both the visual and the performing arts and is officially recognized by the South African government as a national arts festival. Based on the number of visitors, it is also the largest South African arts festival.
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