Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Coenie was educated at University of the Free State in Bloemfontein majoring in media studies where he later on lectured in the Communications faculty. He has always viewed his musical career as his second vocation. He is also a classically trained pianist. Coenie is the anchor presenter in popular South African kykNET journal program "Kwela".
During the late 1980s, Coenie spent a few years in self-imposed exile in Cyprus. Coenie has also performed in New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
Coenie signed with Mountain Records in 1983, and recorded his debut album, Skoppensboer, working with producer, Patrick Lee-Thorp and engineer, Kevin Shirley, in the same year. He subsequently recorded 4 albums for the label many of which won industry awards. In addition he contributed to label compilations of his work. Since leaving Mountain Records he has recorded a number of one off projects for different labels.
Coenie lived on the island of Cyprus during the eighties and nineties. He wrote, recorded and produced the album Amper Alleen in Cyprus and in Athens, Greece. Amper Alleen was the second SA album to be released on CD. Coenie and his family returned to South Africa after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC. He released Hartland, an album which included a vocal performance by Lesley Rae Dowling.
Die Tjellis Van Sarajevo
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Staan in sy kamer by die ruit
Kyk oor die plein waar mense toustaan
Om ‘n stukkie brood te byt
Want die beleg van Sarajevo
Vou sy vuiste om die stad
Klem al stywer om die strate
En dan opeens verblinded
Word die plein in rook gehul
Skud ‘n skokgolf teen die ruite
Wat die tjellis met vrees vervul
As die rook en stof verdwyn, lê twee-en-twintig mense dood
En hul enigste oortreding
Was om te wag op bietjie brood
Die tjellis van Sarajevo
Neem al wapen wat hy het
Neem sy tjello en musiek
Om Sarajevo te ontset
Vir twee en twintig dae in sy manelpak op die plein
Vertolk hy die adagio
Wat spreek van bloed en pyn
Vir twee en twintig dae word die strate om hom stil
Vaag en bom op Sarajevo om sy tjello se ontwil
Die tjellis van Sarajevo wys aan hulle wat kan hoor
Dat wapens en selfs grafgeskud teen musiek die stryd verloor
The lyrics to Coenie De Villiers's “Die Tjellis Van Sarajevo” describe the siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. The “tjellis” or cellist of Sarajevo stands in his room, looking out the window and witnessing the struggle of the people outside who are queuing up for bread. The city is surrounded, and the cellist feels their pain and desperation, clutching his instrument and waiting for an opportunity to help.
Suddenly, a bomb explodes and kills 22 innocent people who just wanted to eat. The cellist is stricken with fear and anguish but then decides to take action. He takes his cello and goes to the square, where he plays Adagio in G Minor by Italian baroque composer Tomaso Albinoni. For 22 consecutive days, he plays this mournful piece, each day in memory of the victims of the city. Despite the bombardment and constant fighting, the streets become silent as people listen to the music, and the city's attackers are reminded of their humanity. By using music as a weapon against war, the cellist shows that the war can be defeated not only by weapons of destruction but also by beauty and creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Die tjellis van Sarajevo
The musician of Sarajevo
Staan in sy kamer by die ruit
He stands in his room by the window
Kyk oor die plein waar mense toustaan
He looks over the square where people queue
Om ‘n stukkie brood te byt
To get a bite to eat
Want die beleg van Sarajevo
Because of the siege of Sarajevo
Vou sy vuiste om die stad
He clenches his fists around the city
Klem al stywer om die strate
Holds even tighter onto the streets
Waar koeëls en skrapnels spat
Where bullets and shrapnel fly
En dan opeens verblinded
And then suddenly blinded
Word die plein in rook gehul
The square is covered in smoke
Skud ‘n skokgolf teen die ruite
A shockwave shakes the windows
Wat die tjellis met vrees vervul
Filling the musician with fear
As die rook en stof verdwyn, lê twee-en-twintig mense dood
When the smoke and dust clears, twenty-two people lay dead
En hul enigste oortreding
And their only crime
Was om te wag op bietjie brood
Was waiting for a little bit of bread
Die tjellis van Sarajevo
The musician of Sarajevo
Neem al wapen wat hy het
Takes up whatever weapon he has
Neem sy tjello en musiek
Takes up his cello and music
Om Sarajevo te ontset
To lift the siege of Sarajevo
Vir twee en twintig dae in sy manelpak op die plein
For twenty-two days in his coat on the square
Vertolk hy die adagio
He plays the adagio
Wat spreek van bloed en pyn
That speaks of blood and pain
Vir twee en twintig dae word die strate om hom stil
For twenty-two days the streets are silent around him
Vaag en bom op Sarajevo om sy tjello se ontwil
Shelling and bombing of Sarajevo cease for the sake of his cello
Die tjellis van Sarajevo wys aan hulle wat kan hoor
The musician of Sarajevo shows those who can hear
Dat wapens en selfs grafgeskud teen musiek die stryd verloor
That weapons and even grave shooting lose the battle against music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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