Benoni came alive this past weekend as nearly 15,000 festivalgoers gathered at the Benoni Northerns Sports Grounds for Glimlag Fees, celebrating Afrikaans music, entertainment and community spirit.
The festival also marked the beginning of a new tradition, with The Marketing Zoo launching an annual award recognising individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the Afrikaans entertainment industry.
The award will be presented each year at Glimlag Fees, honouring people whose careers, dedication and influence have helped shape the industry.
According to Wian Smith-Venter, CEO of The Marketing Zoo, the initiative aims to recognise those who have contributed to the industry’s development, both on stage and behind the scenes.
“We often talk about the artists on stage, but the Afrikaans entertainment industry is made up of so many people who, both in front of and behind the scenes, have invested their time, energy, creativity and passion over many years. With this award, we want to recognise one of those people each year and tell their story,” says Smith-Venter.
Vicki van der Merwe Honoured for 25 Years in Entertainment
The inaugural award went to Vicki van der Merwe, a director at The Marketing Zoo, who celebrates 25 years in the entertainment, media and marketing industries.
Her career began in Port Elizabeth, where she organised concerts featuring artists such as Dozi, the late Theuns Jordaan, Steve Hofmeyr and Smokie.
She later moved into the media industry, holding marketing positions at publications including Huisgenoot, YOU and DRUM. Her experience also spans the era when Huisgenoot Skouspel was a major event on the Afrikaans entertainment calendar.
Over the past quarter-century, Van der Merwe has witnessed significant changes in how artists connect with audiences, from traditional telephone calls and fax machines to social media, streaming platforms and instant digital communication.
“It is an incredible privilege to still be doing what I love after 25 years. When I started working, we barely used email. We sent faxes, picked up the phone, and built many of our relationships face to face. Today, an artist can communicate directly with thousands of people within seconds,” says Van der Merwe.
Despite these technological changes, she believes the industry’s greatest strength remains its people.
“The heart of this industry remains its people. It is about talent, stories, relationships and that special connection between an artist and an audience. Technology may change the way we create that connection, but it can never replace the humanity behind it.”
Developing young artists remains particularly important to her, alongside recognising established performers who continue attracting audiences after decades in the industry.
Although the award acknowledges her 25-year career, Van der Merwe sees it as encouragement to continue creating opportunities for emerging talent.
Benoni Comes Together for Glimlag Fees
The award announcement formed part of a festival that attracted nearly 15,000 attendees, with performances by Kurt Darren, Spoegwolf and Demi Lee Moore among the musical highlights.
Some artists made memorable entrances by helicopter, landing at the festival grounds before joining the celebrations.
Beyond the performances, local schools, vendors and businesses contributed to the event’s success.
In the weeks leading up to Glimlag Fees, organisers visited schools throughout the community, building enthusiasm among learners, teachers and parents.
For Smith-Venter, the response from Benoni demonstrated the importance of community participation.
“Benoni showed up. People sang along, laughed, spent time together and supported the vendors. Looking out across the grounds and seeing that sea of people was an incredible moment for us. We are genuinely grateful for the way the community embraced Glimlag Fees.”
Local vendors also played an important role, offering food, products and services throughout the festival.
The Marketing Zoo believes this combination of artists, audiences, businesses and community organisations reflects the broader Afrikaans entertainment industry that its new award aims to celebrate.
Supporting Smile Foundation
Glimlag Fees also supported Smile Foundation, giving the celebration a charitable purpose beyond music and entertainment.
The involvement of festivalgoers, sponsors, schools, artists and vendors helped organisers contribute to the foundation’s work.
For The Marketing Zoo, the festival demonstrated how entertainment can bring communities together while supporting a worthwhile cause.
Looking ahead, the company hopes its annual award will develop into a lasting tradition, documenting the achievements of individuals who have helped build Afrikaans entertainment over successive generations.
“We have attached the first name to this award this year, but this is the beginning of something we hope to grow for many years to come,” says Smith-Venter.
Reflecting on the festival’s success, he offered a final message of appreciation to the community:
“We organised Glimlag Fees, but Benoni made it a festival. To every person who showed up, supported us, celebrated with us and believed with us – thank you. Benoni showed its heart.”