Koos Kombuis

Koos Kombuis (born André le Roux du Toit, 5 November 1954) is a South African musician, singer, songwriter and writer who became famous as part of a group of anti-establishment maverick Afrikaans musicians, who, under the collective name of Voëlvry (directly translated meaning “Free as a bird”; in Afrikaans “voëlvry” is synonymous to the words “fugitive” and “outlaw”), toured campuses across South Africa in the 1980s, to “liberate Afrikaans from the shackles of its past”. Fellow musicians of this movement were Johannes Kerkorrel and Bernoldus Niemand (James Phillips).

Something of an icon among certain South Africans who consider him the guru of Afrikaans rock music and father of non-conformist Afrikaans culture is what Koos Kombuis has become. From a younger Afrikaner generation who didn’t believe in apartheid and didn’t toe the ruling National Party line. Coined by the movement and term “Alternative Afrikaner” for themselves.

During his childhood his nickname was “Koos” and he got his last name from a time when he squatted in the kitchen of former drug-dealer and author Al Lovejoy. A humorous stage name as well as his pen name is Koos (sounding like “koo-iss”) is a shortened version for the common name “Jacobus” / “Jakobus”, but Afrikaans slang for a chamber pot. Kombuis means “Kitchen” in Afrikaans.

Musical influences he has cites from Bob Dylan, Neil Young as well as ex-Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon. His style of music is raw and Kombuis often accompanies himself only with his acoustic guitar, but sometimes uses his backing rock band known as “Die Warmblankes” (“The Almost Drunk / Mellow Whites”, a play on the Afrikaans word ‘armblankes’ (poor whites).

Being considered by some as one of the best lyricists in South African music today, by one of his most popular hits is “Lisa se Klavier” (“Lisa’s Piano”), which has been covered by Laurika Rauch and The Parlotones.