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"When Rustling Became an Art" tells the story of a father, son and grandson who led the Kgatla people to political and military prominence in the western Transvaal and eastern Bechuanaland during the 19th century. This is a story of shrewd risk-takers perpetrating calculated violence, fit for the times. For Boers and Africans alike, good enterprises were measured in cattle, and the Kgatla under Pilane and his two successors, Kgamanyane and Linchwe, were uncommonly good at acquiring cattle.

This is also the first detailed narrative of early-to-late western Transvaal history involving resident Boer and African communities, along with missionary activity, the relations between the South African Republic and its western border, and the complex movement of African groups into and out of the western Transvaal between 1860 and 1900. It provides a revisionist perspective of Paul Kruger, detailing his land speculation, slave raiding, collaborative dealings with Africans, and his political and religious struggles within the Boer community of Rustenburg District.

24/12/1818 - Oukersaand. 'n Klein dorpie in Oostenryk. Armoede vier hoogty. 'n Hulppriester, Joseph Mohr, en 'n onderwyser, Franz Xaver Gruber, wil die mense 'n spesiale geskenk op die heilige aand gee - 'n geskenk van troos en hoop.

So ontstaan die lied "Stille nag, heilige nag" en word nog dieselfde aand in die kerk van Oberndorf/Salzburg uitgevoer.
Diep getref deur 'n ware geskenk is die mense dié aand huis toe.
En die gevoel word telkens in die tyd herhaal, oral waar die lied opklink, oral waar mense oor grense heen deur die lirieke en melodie aan mekaar verbonde voel. Die lied word reeds in meer as 140 tale gesing.

Sy oorsprong is aangrypend vir oud en jonk, en die resultaat 'n ware gesinsboek.
Mathys Roets is welbekend en sy sang geliefde - sy besondere interpretasie van die lied en ook sy inspirerende vertelling is vasgevang op die spesiale CD wat deel vorm van hierdie pragboek.