BY DESTINE NDE
Goat meat is a staple in large parts of the world – in fact, roughly 70 percent of meat consumed globally is goat meat. It features in the traditional cuisines of Africa, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and especially among Muslims everywhere.
Goat meat is very healthy – it contains far less fat that pork, beef and lamb, and even less than skinless chicken. At the same time, it has a higher protein content than pork, lamb, and chicken, and equal to that of beef. As such, demand for meat goats is rising. Guess what’s the most treasured and most highly coveted meat goat in the world? None other than the South African Boerbok!
Modern Boerbokke were developed in the Eastern Cape in the early 1900s by crossing indigenous African goats with European dairy breeds. As such one can confidently say the Boerbok is ‘Proudly South African’, and a product of the Karoo. In fact, even though Boerbokke are now being farmed and sold all over the world, the South African Boerbok is still regarded as pure-bred, with no traces of admixture from any foreign sources.
Both male and female Boerbokke are long, large, and have massive muscles. Their ears are long and pendulous, with a convex facial profile. Anther trademark is the rolls of wrinkled skin over their shoulders. There two main types: the Traditionals, which have white bodies and red heads; and the Non-traditionals, which are black with white heads. They are interesting, unique, and strangely beautiful animals. In fact, advises the American author Maggie Soyer in Storey’s Guide to Raising Meat Goats, ‘if you want to show your goats, the Boer is your breed’.
South African Boerbokke were the first in the world to be scientifically tested for their meat production. Indeed, notes Soyer, ‘The Boer is the quintessential meat goat’, and adds that ‘Boers have revolutionized the meat goat industry’.
Initially, Boerbokke weren’t sold outside of South Africa. But in the late 1980s, a group of New Zealand breeders purchased embryos in Zimbabwe and took them back home, to be implanted in suitable does. ‘Thus began New Zealand’s love affair with Boer goats,’ writes Soyer. Soon after that, in 1990, this highly desired breed found its way to Canada, and soon after that to the US, in 1991.
In fact, the US now has three big associations which register Boer goats: the American Boer Goat Association (ABGA), the International Boer Goat Association, and the United States Boer Goat Association. What’s more, they even have titles. To be ennobled is the highest title and honour which can be bestowed on a Boer. It is based on their wins during goat shows, and on those of their offspring too. According to Soyer, South Afrivan Boer goats are the darlings of many fullblood breeders, and frequently command higher prices than others.
Against this background, it is only fitting for South Africans in general and the people of the Eastern Cape and the Karoo in particular to take pride in Boerbokke – and for a special motorbike rally held annually in the Klein Karoo town of Willowmore to be named the Boerbok Rally.
On Saturday 16 November, the Royal Hotel on Knysna Street was crowded with bikers and supporters. Not only the interior and stoep were full, but the street outside as well. A talented guitarist was playing and singing in front of the hotel. The crowd was exuberant, friendly, and in a celebratory mood. Almost everyone had some kind of drink, in a glass or a bottle. There were colourful umbrellas in front of the hotel. The attires of the participants were just as colourful – even, if I may say so, a bit wild and even crazy.
The bikes and their riders were spectacular, and the way they rode them too. They were running drag races in the street, and spinning their bikes in circles so that they left black marks on the road (known as doughnuts, I believe). Some raised their front wheels off the ground and sped off on their back wheels only (apparently known as popping wheelies).
There was a heavy presence of traffic and other police officers. In fact, the whole street was cordoned off for about four hours, from ten in the morning to about two in the afternoon, and lined by many local spectators.
The organiser of this year’s Boerbok Rally, Jan Stols, with his Honda Goldwing and his dog, Boeta.
I asked Jan Stols, organiser of this year’s rally, to explain what it was all about. He said: ‘It’s a family get-together. Every year we gather here to celebrate life, to meet old friends, and to exchange stories.’
Why the name? ‘We gather here every year, so we needed a name. Nothing this region is more famous for than the Boerbok — so we decided to call it the Boerbok Rally.’
He went on to explain that the rally was open to everyone. ‘Everything goes. People can even ride without helmets. The officers of the law understand the prestige behind the rally. That’s why they’re here — to control everything, so that we can enjoy ourselves.’
Participants, he said, came from far and near. ‘They stay in the campsite at the show grounds. There you can find whatever you need. There are food stalls, farm stalls and coffee stalls. Plus clean showers and toilets.’
The registration fee is R350, and there are free-will donations as well. But most of the money goes to charity. In fact, this year, almost R300 000 went to a home for the deaf and dumb in Worcester.
There are prizes to be worn – ‘a prize for the fastest beer drinker’ (we both laughed for a good while at this point), ‘prizes for the best dancers, the bike that travelled the longest to get here, and the bike that’s still in the most pristine original condition’.
The author with the owner of the Royal Hotel, Mr Jan Fockens.
According to Mr Jan Fockens, owner of the Royal Hotel, the rally has been doing for seven to eight years. He confirms: ‘It’s called the Boerbok Rally because this area is the best for Boerbok farming.’
When does it start, and when is it supposed to end? People begin to arrive on Thursday, he explained, but the really really starts on Friday night,when people just drink and are happy to see their friends. ‘Saturday morning is breakfast, bike riding, and catching up. On Saturday night we move over to the showgrounds. There we have a live band, and there is dancing, singing, the Boerbok braais, and everything else. On Sunday morning people pack up and leave.’
I asked a participant, a Mr François, whether he was enjoying himself. ‘I love it!’ he said happily; ‘I won’t miss it for anything in the world.’
‘And you, Ma’am?’ I asked his wife, Alinda: ‘Are you having a nice time?’ ‘It’s absolutely brilliant!’ she said with enviable excitement, and a beautiful smile.
After these lively conversations, Mr Stols invited me to have a drink with him, and showed me his Honda Goldwing touring bike and his dog, Boeta. He has owned 24 bikes, of which the Goldwing is number 20.
He told me: “There isn’t another rally in South Africa that offers this sort of enjoyment, right in front of the watchful eyes of law enforcement. You see, all those riders are drunk, but that’s exactly why the officers are here.’
This was indeed true — both Captain Kondlo of the SAPS and Senior Traffic Officer Biko were so busy that they said they could only talk to me after things had quietened down a little.
‘What a prestigious history, tradition and heritage the people of South Africa and particularly those in the Eastern Cape have in the Boerbok,’ I thought to myself back at home.
I wondered whether the residents of Willowmore who congregated in such great numbers to watch the rally had any idea of how universally renowned their homeland is simply because of the Boerbok – and how this aboriginal product of theirs is desired all over the world.
FEATURED IMAGE: Drag races in Knysna Street, Willowmore, in front of the Royal Hotel. (All images: the author)