Een Voet in die Verlede Twee Oë wat Voorwaarts Loer

^{Copyright © 2026 Illustration by Wilhelm Laufs}

“Een voet in die verlede, twee oë wat voorwaarts loer”

These are the words by Ian Robert (better know is Sloet Steenkamp) from the song Transboer, by the Radio Kalahari Orkes. The words mean “One foot in the past, two eyes looking to the future” and the song is about how the Boere has had to transcend into the Brave New World we live in today. It’s not easy being a Boer in South Africa considering all the hatred directed towards us. Many Boere have decided to move abroad to build new lives for themselves and their families. Sometimes it’s very difficult though, as the Boer Identity was formed in South Africa over 400 years, therefore the homesickness can hit you very hard. Have you ever been homesick? Please comment down below.

During Covid, I was living in Kokshetau, Kazakhstan. Many thanks to the people of Kazakhstan for taking such good care of us. I will always be grateful. Covid surely was a turning point in my life. For me, after Covid, nothing was the same anymore. Where where you during Covid and how did the experience change your life? Please comment down below.

It was in Kokshetau where I wrote the story I will bring you today. It is one of the first stories I every wrote, and based on my first haircut at a barbershop in many years. The language barrier caused a bit of a challenge, as it was a high risk situation, but we managed. With this story I tried to illustrate Sloet Steenkamps description of “One foot in the past, two eyes looking to the future”

So, without any further ado:

RadmiR. A Man of speciality. A man of precision. A man that wears a chest harness. He uses the harness to organise and carry around his tools: scissors, combs, clippers, powders, spray bottles, shampoos, conditioners, hair gel and a blow dryer.

I have never had a lot of hair. A bald head has always been my destiny. My hairline already started receding at school. Between the age of 18 and 28 I suffered gradual recedes of more or less 1cm per year. However, between the age of 29 and 33 the line started pulling back a bit quicker. I estimate an average loss of 1.3cm per year. Between the age of 34 and 36 it became clear my days were numbered. Indeed, the front of my hairline had more or less reached my crown. I was forced to let go of any hope of every wearing a Short Quiff, or a Long Come Over with a Low Fade.

I was almost 37 years old when I decided to visit RadmiR. 19 years ago, it had been my matric farewell. 19 years ago I had last visited a barber. Ever since then I have shaved my own head.

RadmiR didn’t speak any Afrikaans? I wasn’t sure why? Maybe because he was Kazakh…? So, we tried to communicate in Russian and also threw in some English from time to time.

I sat down on the stool. RadmiR went online and pointed out a couple of hairstyles. It came as a great surprise to me. His positivity was amazing. Some of the styles he suggested were: a Medium Side Sweep, a Textured Pompadour Fade, a Modern Messy Quiff, as well as a Mohawk Fade. He meant well, but it caused frustration as everything suggested was unrealistic. Pipe dreams. With the use of Google Translate we decided on a Short and Neat. Both of us accepted it as a logical option.

It was about two months before Covid 19 and the official lockdown, but RadmiR was already wearing a mask. On his head he presented a trucker cap similar to those rappers wear. He started a theme song through his blue-tooth speaker. Indeed, rap. It could’ve been Snoop Dogg or Tupac. The song was about a guy who had to satisfy himself because he didn’t have enough money to provide for the woman’s multitude of expensive needs. It made me think of the Waltz Hereafter. And so… RadmiR started with his masterpiece:

Firstly, he pulled a spray bottle with water from his harness. A refreshing mist, followed by a scissors enacting its duty. He focused on cultivating a symmetrical balance along the sides and back. He left the top for last. I could see he was very nervous. In fairness, there was little room for error. Literally, the last couple of hairs between the front of my hairline and my crown. The end of an era. The final blades of grass trying to cling to the past. Of course RadmiR didn’t want to mess it up for me. Who would be so mean? He settled himself… and approached me for conformation.

Carefully he presented his opinion regarding a suitable length using a comb. I requested that he left a bit more than he intended to. It is not easy to let go of the past. Next, RadmiR tidied up around my ears and also shaved the fine hairs in my neck. He finished his masterpiece through rounding off the cut with the blow dryer and combing my hair.

I got up, the rap song was paused and I paid. We said goodbye and I promised to come and visit again soon. I opened the door and walked out. With a brand-new hairstyle. The front of my bald head and my bald crown symbolising my past. The patch of hair left on top a symbol of me clinging to the past. I was left with the prospect of the upcoming meeting between my crown and forehead. I started to get excited about the shiny new future that awaited.

Big thanks to Sloet Steenkamp and the Radio Kalahari Orkes. Listen to their song Transboer here. I have done my own cover of Transboer. You can watch it here.

Buy the T-shirt here.

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Thanks for reading.