Gert Vlok Nel

South African Poet and Singer-Songwriter

Born the son of a railway worker in the semi-desert Karoo town of Beaufort-West in 1963, Gert Vlok Nel is considered a "maverick" on South Africa's literary scene, and a "troubadour with a guitar" on stage. He studied English, Afrikaans and History at Stellenbosch University and has published the collection of poetry "Om te lewe is onnatuurlik" (To live is unnatural) in 1993 to huge critical acclaim. Subsequently, he's set his writings to music, leading to the album Beaufort-Wes Se Beautiful Woorde, nation-wide tours, a follow-up CD and DVD, and a substantial cult following in the Netherlands.