Ruhan du Toit Releases Pa vir Kersfees Song
The musical tribute tells the story of hero Wolraad Woltemade.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Historical
Artist Ruhan du Toit has released the song Pa vir Kersfees, which recounts the story of Christiaan Ludwig, the son of the legendary Wolraad Woltemade. Woltemade famously drowned in Table Bay in 1773 while attempting to rescue shipwrecked sailors.
Why it matters
The project serves as a musical commemoration of South African history and the legacy of Wolraad Woltemade. It aims to share this narrative with contemporary audiences through a modern medium.
The song honours events from 1773, the year Wolraad Woltemade died in Table Bay. The production features a performance by the Garsfontein High School choir.
The players
Ruhan du Toit
He is the artist who released the song Pa vir Kersfees.
Wolraad Woltemade
He was a historical figure who died in 1773 while saving shipwrecked sailors in Table Bay.
AfriForum
This is the civil rights organisation that launched the music project.
Garsfontein High School
The school choir provided the musical performance for the track.
The details
Henry-John Williams penned the song, which was arranged by Stephan Hugo Botha and features the Garsfontein High School choir under the direction of Ruan Odendaal. The initiative was launched by AfriForum as part of a wider music project.
Timeline
Wolraad Woltemade drowned in Table Bay in 1773.
The music video premiered on AfriForumTV and YouTube on 22 October 2026.
Culture Shift
This release reflects a broader trend of using digital media to preserve and recontextualise South African heritage for younger generations. It follows a pattern of transforming historical narratives into accessible, modern musical content to maintain cultural awareness.
Listeners can access the song on YouTube and major streaming platforms to engage with the historical narrative. The release invites the public to learn more about the actions of Wolraad Woltemade through a contemporary musical lens.
The takeaway
Using music to retell national history can help preserve the memory of historical figures for new generations. Readers interested in local history may appreciate how modern artists continue to document traditional stories through popular media channels.
Further reading
Discover more about local heritage in the Historical section of our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nuusflits.
