The journey for the choirs, since the birth of the Ou Board 78 years ago, is from the practice room to the stage to compete, then to the field for the final.
The latter is made up of army drill-styled marching, best board, best dress and exhibition divisions.
It is the perseverance, hard work, sacrifice and sheer will to win displayed by those competing in these two completely different disciplines which will eventually leave one choir standing tall above the rest to lift the coveted Silver Fez trophy.
On Sunday evening at Cape Town’s minstrel cultural home, the much-loved Athlone stadium, the Shoprite Jonge Studente singkoor were crowned the kings of the Cape Malay Choirs for 2017 by winning this prestigious accolade.
Supporters were overjoyed and emotions ran high as they took to social media to say slamat to the team for their magnificent achievement.
This is the ninth time in the history of the highly respected club that they have won this award. Over the years, the Shoprite Jonge Studente have become known among their peers, fellow competitors and supporters as the masters of tone with regards to the combine chorus, innovators of the Nederlandslied and they boast a moppie writing legend who shot to fame with his moppie song Boere, Boeta Ishmael Jackson, as part of their creative arsenal.
The club’s chairperson and leader, Ahmed Ishmael, says: “ Die intention vannie Studente is om altyd a top-class performance te gee en die silver fez is ‘n groot reward vir die manne se tyd wat hulle ge-sacrifice het, en dit is ‘n groot honour vir ons om die koefiyah te wen.”
Mr. Ishmael went on to say that their legacy spans over three to four generations and this win is especially important to the growth of the club as it is a completely new generation – aged 12 to 45 – who have achieved this win.
Marching has always been utilised as a disciplinary vehicle by Malay Choir clubs.
As Mr. Ishmael so eloquently puts it: “Jy moet disciplined wees as jy die march wil wen. Die marching kom uit die army uit en vandag is onse youngsters op daai selfde professional level van die army.”
His team is trained by retired commandant of the Royal Dutch army Mr. Koos Peters.
And he believes the discipline members have shown towards their singing has been carried in to the marching.
When asked if he would be retiring from the sport anytime soon, seeing that the club has already won nine times, the icon replied: “ Soveel soos ek sal likes om te retire, kan ek nie.
“I would be failing in the job wat my voorvaders aan my oorgedra het, om die youngsters te leer hoe om die sport van Maleier-kore met honour, discipline, liefde en a champion spirit te speel.”
The Moppie King would like to extend a huge Daily Voice slamat to all the other participating choirs boards.
Mr. Ishmael, speaking alongside the president of the CMCB, Boeta Shafiek April, says they are proud of the high standards produced by all the choirs.
With that said, this will be the first year that the Top 10 will take place after the marching, but with venue restrictions being almost as high as the water restrictions in the Cape, the Cape Malay Choirs had no other choice.
The Top 10 competition takes place at the Castle of Good Hope on Saturday.