15 questions for Churchil Naudé

1. Explain yourself in a hashtag.

#sinner

2. How and when did you start?

When these things started in my head, I didn't know it was the beginning. It's like a child who doesn't know he's growing — you're just grown-up one day, then you realise you are what you dreamed you were going to be.

3. Have you always written in Afrikaans?

I first wrote in English because it was still in the days when Afrikaans was “the oppressors' language".

4. What music did you grow up listening to?

My mum came home one day with an old “gram". It was one of those big ones that filled the entire front room, so they stored it in my room. There were about 20 seven-inch singles, from the Bee Gees to Creedence Clearwater Revival. I was about nine years old and wasn't sure what these white people were singing about but that music got to me. My uncle also brought me two Bob Marley albums — in those days you could still get locked up if the police caught you with them.

5. What are you reading at the moment?

I finished reading Pieternella van die Kaap [by Daleen Matthee] at the end of November and also Clinton V du Plessis' poetry collection, 60 op 60. 

6. Where does your name come from? The single “l" in Churchil? 

Churchil is my birth name. The one “l" happened when I got my first identity document from home affairs. The white auntie behind the counter informed me that Churchill is actually a surname and if it is a name it is spelt with one “l". In those days you couldn't argue with white aunties about such shit. You could either lose the “l" or lose an eye or something if the security guard got to you.

7. What is your guilty pleasure?

Whisky, but I don't necessarily feel guilty about it.

8. And your pet hate?

I don't like arrogant braggarts.

9. Your favourite toy when you were small?

I liked making wire cars. My cousin showed me how when I was still living in East London.

10. Who do you write your songs for?

For anyone who loves Afrikaans in all its forms.

11. Where else would you like to perform?

It will probably never happen but I would love to perform at an Afrikaans is Groot concert so that I can show whoever is interested that Afrikaans is bigger than Afrikaans is Groot.

12. And who else would you like to collaborate with?

Maybe with Jack Parow, I think we might make something cool.

13. What quality do you least like about yourself?

I am very impatient and sometimes moan unnecessarily, but when I moan it doesn't feel unnecessary. I always realise it later.

14. Your favourite South African and international rappers?

Isaac Mutant in South Africa and Chuck D  internationally.

15. What are you looking forward to?

The real rainbow nation.

♦ VWB ♦

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