They don't make raconteurs like Gert Vlok Nel anymore. A poet above all else, this son of the Great Karoo is often compared to the likes of Bob Dylan and Koos du Plessis, while he cites Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits as influences. Taken from his 2006 debut, Beaufort Wes Se Beautiful Woorde, the track “Beautiful in Beaufort-Wes” is now considered a modern classic in Afrikaans folk music. He's been praised as one of South Africa's finest talents—our selection of the poet's much beloved songs are sure to make you a fan.