Rina Hugo and Hanlie Jordaan. (Photo: NWU Archive/Facebook)
“Alabama members all share a special, common bond. It was not difficult to pick up the strings again and have a great time together.”
This is how Chris de Bruyn talks, former member of the Alabama student society and organizer of the recent 80-year reunion held at the North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom campus.
Former members have returned to this student town from across the country to share in the joy of this musical group.
Rina Hugo and her husband, Johan van Rensburg, are both former members and attended the event, which took place in the Totiussaal on campus.
“Alabama has adapted over the years to fit the times,” says Chris.
This company was founded in 1943 as a country music group. At that stage they presented variety concerts of folk plays, singing, dancing and comic sketches. This era of the company came to an end in the 1950s when the group realized that the market had changed and that there was no longer such a great demand for it.
After that, the group prepared and performed operettas for several years, something that would only last a few years before the group’s ever-popular revue era arrived in 1967.
The group won South African hearts with a wide variety of revue productions with which they toured the country from town to town, city to city.
In 2007, after 40 years of revues, this era of the group also came to an end.
Today, every few years, the group presents a famous musical play, such as Grease in Fame for the Potchefstroom students. Chris explains that cultural events, such as those offered by Alabama productions, are always popular with students.
“We are very happy here on campus with a large and healthy student life,” he says.
“The arts calendar is full of events such as debate, say and debate. Every time such an event takes place there is always great interest.”
Although the student group no longer operates as it used to, the members remain proud of the legacy they have left behind.
“You can see Alabama’s legacy in every school review across the country, and we’re proud of that.”
