The inaugural SAFRA Heritage Gala, presented by the South African Free Reed Association, is a Heritage Day concert celebrating the accordion, concertina, and harmonica traditions of Southern Africa.
The programme marks a host of centenary milestones: the first boeremusiek recordings of the 1920s, the birth year of legendary accordionist Nico Carstens (1926–2016), composer of the internationally recorded "Zambezi" and more than 2,000 songs across South African musical traditions, and the founding of the Kruger National Park in 1926. The gala also marks 40 years of the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre, established in 1986.
The performance draws together leading South African free reed musicians, including accordionists, concertina players, and harmonica artists across traditional, world music, and classical idioms. Featured performers include Carl Julius, Desmond Goliath, Hano Krige, and Leon Oosthuizen, among many others. Alongside the musical performances, there will be dance contributions from ballet, Scottish country dancing, tango, and volkspele.
Refreshments are available on the day.