During the 1970s, before the development of advanced sound technology, Afrikaans speakers were compelled to entertain themselves. This included singing songs. Folk songs and other Afrikaans songs were often sung, either unaccompanied or with simple accompaniments. In schools children were exposed to compulsory tuition in singing, and children's songs with Afrikaans texts, such as those by Anna Rudolph, were sung throughout South Africa by Afrikaans-speakers. Currently these songs are seldom heard, and children's singing with the use of backtracks, microphones and sound amplifiers is becoming more popular.
The literature review of this study covered the singing habits of young Afrikaans speakers from the 1970s until the present. In conducting a field experiment, a new CD of children's songs by Rudolph (containing recordings made during the 1970s) and sheet music was produced. This aspect sets the research apart from any previous similar studies.
The conclusions reached indicate that the Afrikaans singing culture of the 1970s has been supplanted by an electronic listening culture. This results in the disuse of Afrikaans children's songs that are published only as sheet music. The evaluation of a selection of Rudolph's children's songs showed that this music from the 1970s can still be used today, although some lyrics would need to be updated. The packaging of the songs in a CD format instead of as sheet music would be of cardinal importance. In this way a new desire to sing in Afrikaans can be inculcated in young children between the ages of four and twelve.
In die 1970's, voor die ontwikkeling van gevorderde klanktegnologie, was baie Afrikaanssprekers op hulleself aangewese vir vermaak. Volksliedjies en ander Afrikaanse liedjies is dikwels onbegeleid of met eenvoudige begeleiding gesing. In skole is kinders aan verpligte sangonderrig blootgestel en Afrikaanse kinderliedjies soos dié van Anna Rudolph is landwyd deur Afrikaanssprekers gesing. Vandag word hierdie liedjies baie selde gehoor, en sonder "backtracks", mikrofone en klankversterkers vind feitlik geen kindersang meer plaas nie.
Die literatuurstudie vir hierdie artikel het die bestudering van jong Afrikaanssprekers se sangkultuur van die 1970's af tot vandag behels. Verskeie onderhoude is deur die outeur gevoer. Die uitvoer van 'n veldproef wat die samestelling van 'n nuwe Anna Rudolph-CD en -bladmusiek (met opnames uit die 1970's) insluit, onderskei hierdie navorsing van enige vorige soortgelyke studie.
Die bevindinge waartoe geraak is, toon dat die Afrikaanse sangkultuur van die 1970's geleidelik deur 'n elektroniese luisterkultuur vervang is. Dit bring mee dat die benutting van baie Afrikaanse kinderliedere soos wat dit in musiekbundels verskyn, bloot weggeval het. Die evaluering van 'n keuse uit Rudolph se kinderliedere het getoon dat die musiek van die 1970's steeds vandag gebruik kan word, hoewel party lirieke vernuwe moet word. Die verpakking van die liedjies in CD-formaat in plaas van in musiekbundels is van deurslaggewende belang. Sodoende kan 'n liefde vir die sing van Afrikaanse liedjies opnuut by jong kinders tussen vier en twaalf jaar gekweek word.
