Pennywhistle: The Magical Instrument

After the near-accidental discovery of new techniques and fingering systems, the humble pennywhistle became the ubiquitous sound of urban South Africa in the 1950s. At the very birth of the apartheid era, child musicians in Johannesburg’s Alexandra township used pennywhistles (the cheapest availbale instrument) to create a new style of street jazz known as kwela, combining elements of African tradition with fast-paced American swing and British skiffle. The film traces the evolution and repercussions of this unusual scene until today, and includes the last filmed appearances of African legends Dolly Rathebe and Big Voice Jack Lerole.

The partner of the screening is Music On Film-Film On Music