Vitaal Makietie bring nuwe energie na Taalmonument

Tweedaagse fees vier kultuur, argitektuur en natuur met plesier

Die Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en -monument (ATM) is opgewonde om vanjaar die Vitaal Makietie aan te bied, ’n tweedaagse viering wat dié lente taal, kultuur, musiek, leefstyl, avontuur en samesyn op ’n vars en toeganklike wyse by die monument byeenbring.

Die makietie bestaan uit die gewilde Koorfees op VRYDAG 9 OKTOBER vanaf 18:00 tot 20:00 by die Amfiteater en die aktiwiteit-belaaide Jaarfees vanaf 07:00 tot 20:00 op SATERDAG 10 OKTOBER 2026 by die Taalmonument op die beeldskone Paarlberg. Danksy vennootskappe met The Rock Ultra (TRU), All Mountain Co., Spur en die Drakenstein-munisipaliteit beloof hierdie unieke geleentheid om die eerste weergawe van ’n jaarlikse instelling te wees.

“Die Vitaal Makietie is ’n nuwe manier om ons verjaardag (die monument is in Oktober 1975 ingewy) te vier en terselfdertyd die Taalmonument se deure nóg wyer oop te maak deur mense van alle ouderdomme na die Boland se bekendste kulturele baken te lok,” sê direkteur Michael Jonas. “Ons wil hê mense moet die ATM nie net as ’n plek van erfenis en geskiedenis ervaar nie, maar ook as ’n dinamiese ontmoetingsplek waar mense byeenkom, pret het en nuwe herinneringe skep. Die woord ‘vitaal’ sinspeel op die woord taal as ’n onmisbare, lewenskragtige bron van lewe terwyl die Afrikaanse ‘makietie’ van die Sesotho-woord ‘mokete’ (fees) erkenning gee aan die wisselwerking tussen ons Afrikatale en ons mense.”

Hoewel die Afrikaanse taal- en kultuurerfenis die hart van die geleentheid vorm, is die doel om ’n platform te skep waar mense met uiteenlopende agtergronde saam kan kuier en deelneem. Die veeltalige skoolkoorfees op Vrydag bied byvoorbeeld aan skole ’n unieke geleentheid om hul liefde vir musiek te deel, nuwe kontakte op te bou en die vreugde van koorsang saam met hul families en belangstellendes te vier.

Saterdag vind daar onder meer kindervermaak en ’n kulturele program met bekende musikante en woordkunstenaars plaas. Talle stalletjies sal heerlike spys, drank en ander items aanbied, met Spur wat die hoof- voedselvennoot op beide dae is. ‘Is jy van jou trollie af?’-kaskarrenne, joga, wandeltogte en ’n avontuurstap sal die meer energiekes gelukkig gaan hou. Laasgenoemde is danksy die ATM se vennootskap met TRU en All Mountain Co. waardeur verskillende wêrelde byeenbring word om ’n moderne geleentheid te skep wat professionele standaarde met gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid en gesinsdeelname kombineer.

Volgens Mias de Klerk, TRU se wendrendirekteur, is dit vir hom en hul besigheid verrykend om saam met die Taalmonument-span te werk. “Ons glo in Afrikaans as ’n verenigende krag wat ’n ongelooflike verskeidenheid interessante en diverse mense bymekaarbring,” sê hy. “Ons beplan tans ook The Rock Ultra, ’n ultra-afstand bergwedloop in Desember wat by die Taalmonument sal begin en eindig, bied reeds heerlike stappe en pieknieks vanaf die monument in samewerking met Drakenstein se Paarlberg-bestuur aan, en open binnekort Potties Koffie & Deli by die monument.”

“Ons wil iets skep wat vitaal voel, iets wat beweeg en leef,” voeg Jonas by: “ ’n Viering met energie, karakter en ’n sterk gevoel van saamwees.” Die geleentheid sluit ook aan by die ATM se breër visie om die Taalmonument as ’n relevante en vooruitdenkende kulturele instelling te posisioneer, waar erfenis op nuwe en skeppende maniere vir huidige én toekomstige geslagte aangebied word. Die doel is om dit as ’n volhoubare jaarlikse geleentheid te vestig wat besoekers van oral lok en só ook toerisme en die plaaslike ekonomiese aktiwiteit in die Paarlvallei en omliggende streek ondersteun.

“Ons hoop dat mense vir die Vitaal Makietie kom, maar weggaan met ’n groter waardering vir die plek self,” sê Jonas. “Ons wil hê hulle moet ontdek dat die Taalmonument inderdaad ’n lewende monument is in ooreenstemming met die argitek, Jan van Wijk, se visie. Dit is ’n plek waar mense kan ontmoet, speel, luister, leer, vier en deel wees van iets groter. Ons het boonop afslagkaartjies vir mense wat albei dae ondersteun, dus kom en word deel van hierdie nuwe tradisie!”

Verversings sal te koop wees en gaste word versoek om warm klere vir die aand saam te bring. Geen eie pieknieks of drank word toegelaat nie.

Toegang is slegs R120 per volwassene en R80 per leerder vir die Koorfees op 9 OKTOBER en R150 per volwassene en R100 per leerder vir die Jaarfees op 10 OKTOBER. Vir albei dae is dit R250 per volwassene en R100 per leerder. Kaartjies is beskikbaar op quicket.co.za of by die hek. Vir meer inligting, besoek taalmuseum.co.za of kontak Tancewill Jaftha by [email protected] of 021 863 0543.

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Vitaal Makietie brings new energy to Taalmonument

Two-day festival celebrates culture, architecture, nature and fun

The Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument (ATM) is excited to present the Vitaal Makietie, a two-day celebration that brings together language, culture, music, lifestyle, adventure and community in a fresh and accessible way at the monument this spring.

The Makietie consists of the popular Choir Festival on FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER from 18:00 to 20:00 at the Amphitheatre and the activity-packed Annual Festival from 07:00 to 20:00 on SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 2026 at the Taalmonument on the beautiful Paarl Mountain. Thanks to partnerships with The Rock Ultra (TRU), All Mountain Co., Spur and the Drakenstein Municipality, this unique event promises to be the first version of an annual event.

“The Vitaal Makietie is a new way to celebrate our anniversary (the monument was inaugurated in October 1975) and at the same time open the doors of the Language Monument even wider by attracting people of all ages to the Boland’s most famous cultural landmark,” says director Michael Jonas. “We want people to experience the ATM not only as a place of heritage and history, but also as a dynamic meeting place where people come together, have fun and create new memories. The word ‘vitaal’ alludes to the word language as an indispensable, vital source of life while the Afrikaans ‘makietie’ from the Sesotho word ‘mokete’ (festival) acknowledges the interaction between our African languages ??and our people.”

Although the Afrikaans language and cultural heritage forms the heart of the event, the aim is to create a platform where people from diverse backgrounds can come together and participate. The multilingual school choir festival on Friday, for example, offers schools a unique opportunity to share their love of music, build new contacts and celebrate the joy of choral singing with their families and interested parties.

On Saturday, there will be children’s entertainment and a cultural programme with well-known musicians and spoken word artists. Numerous stalls will offer delicious food, drinks and other items, with Spur as the main food partner on both days. ‘Is jy van jou trollie af?’ downhill carts, yoga, walks and an adventure hike will keep the more energetic happy. The latter is thanks to the ATM’s partnership with TRU and All Mountain Co., which brings together different worlds to create a modern event that combines professional standards with community involvement and family participation.

According to Mias de Klerk, TRU’s race director, it is enriching for him and their business to work with the Taalmonument team. “We believe in Afrikaans as a unifying force that brings together an incredible variety of interesting and diverse people,” he says. “We are also currently planning The Rock Ultra, an ultra-distance mountain race in December that will start and finish at the Language Monument, are already offering amazing walks and picnics from the monument in collaboration with Drakenstein’s Paarl Mountain management, and will soon be opening Potties Koffie & Deli at the monument.”

“We want to create something that feels vital, something that moves and lives,” adds Jonas: “A celebration with energy, character and a strong sense of togetherness.” The event also aligns with the ATM’s broader vision to position the Language Monument as a relevant and forward-thinking cultural institution, where heritage is presented in new and creative ways for current and future generations. The aim is to establish it as a sustainable annual event that attracts visitors from all over and thus supports tourism and local economic activity in the Paarl Valley and surrounding region.

“We hope that people come for the Vitaal Makietie, but leave with a greater appreciation for the place itself,” says Jonas. “We want them to discover that the Language Monument is indeed a living monument in line with the vision of the architect, Jan van Wijk. It is a place where people can meet, play, listen, learn, celebrate and be part of something bigger. We also have discounted tickets for people who support both days, so come and be part of this new tradition!”

Refreshments will be available for purchase and guests are asked to bring warm clothes for the evening. No own picnics or drinks are allowed.

Admission is only R120 per adult and R80 per learner for the Choir Festival on 9 OCTOBER and R150 per adult and R100 per learner for the Year Festival on 10 OCTOBER. For both days it is R250 per adult and R100 per learner. Tickets are available on quicket.co.za or at the gate. For more information, visit taalmuseum.co.za or contact Tancewill Jaftha at [email protected] or 021 863 0543.