The season has come to an end, and looking back, it’s been fantastic.
But surely one cannot end off one of the most phenomenal seasons of kapdraaie[ solo part] and innovative skondeer patte[when the choir backs up the front singer] without paying tribute to the most loved item of the Cape Malay choir competition, the Nederlandslied.
The song that predominantly features is the Cape Malay karinkel [romantic song] and it is without any doubt one of the most unique musical art forms in the world.
Boeta Ishmail Galant said it best when he asked the Violets singkoor at Groenvlei High School hall the night before the Top 8 in 2010 to close their eyes and told them: “Picture die Top 8, duisende mense sit en hou vir jou dop, hulle luister jou false note uit, en kassam, glo my, almal in daai hall se ore is fyn...so as jy Nederlands wil sing moet jy kan plak vasmaak, en jy sal jou karinkels moet ken.”
The Nederlands legend was teaching Violets about the importance of the Nederlandslied and went on to say with his eyes still closed: “ Jy moet daai karinkel so bef** maak die judge se ore moet nog die next dag flashbacks kry daarvan.”
Boeta Ishmail Galant spent his entire life as an ambassador of the Nederlands song and today is a Cape Town legend in his own right, known to his fans and the industry simply as The Voice.
The Nederlands song is the musical embodiment of the Cape Malay choir culture.
There have been many great masters of the karinkel, like “Boggeltjie”, Amien Vardien, Fadiel Waggie and Fuad Richards, who were all blessed with humility and charisma which added just enough sophistication and helped to carry the legacy of Nederlandsliedere into the 21st century.
With that said I do believe the future of the Nederlands song is looking brighter than ever, as the kings of the Nederlandslied are handing the baton over to the young princes who have been blessed with the snit, and the gift of karinkels.