The District Six Entertainers finally joined the singing competition segment of the Kaapse Klopse Carnival Competition run by the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Assosiasie at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
The season for D6 entertainers was one that saw them not being able to sing their Juvenile Sentimental on day one, and then when they returned to perform their day two singing items two weeks later, they were unable to do so once again due to time constraints.
So while all the teams of the KKKA had already performed all their items, the D6 Entertainers were five items behind until Saturday when they were obligated to perform all seven items in two segments, namely the Afrikaans and English Moppie, English and Afrikaans Combine, Juvenile Combine chorus, and the Junior and Female Sentimental.
Patient D6 supporters were excited to see what the Bo-Kaap team had to offer and when they took to the stage, they proved just why they won the carnival at the CTMCA four times and why they are the team everybody wants to compete against.
They started their singing season with an Afrikaans combine which seemed as if it came straight from the heavens and as the team sang Amen at the end of the combine chorus, Athlone Stadium erupted and gave the mighty D6 a roaring standing ovation.
District Six has that certain X-factor and it was shining bright on Saturday, much to the delight of every single D6 supporter as the Combine ended.
WELL WORTH THE WAIT: District Six Entertainers finally performed their juvenile item
The juvenile solo, who had to wait just as long as the supporters to sing, then stepped on stage and blew the audience away with a mature performance for such a young man.
As the team left the stage after comple- ting their Afrikaans Moppie song titled Die Water Krisis, spirits were high and everyone had that feeling that now we know the section two is not what we may have predicted it to be.
The spectator judges had to go back to their books and pencil some prizes in for the D6.
I have learnt over the years that the Combine chorus is dear to all teams because that is the singpak’s trophy, their glory and this year for me is the year of great combines.
Two teams gave me goosebumps - the Extreme Minstrels’ juvenile chorus and the Kensington All Stars’ choir.
All the kids did a good job and it is always heart-warming to see the up and coming talent.
DELIGHTED: Kensington All Stars
This is what the Kaapse klopse is about, creating a platform for our youth to showcase their talent and creating a vehicle with which this talent can be moulded and grown.
This item, the Juvenile Combine chorus, is of utmost importance to the carnival and I salute the klopse for keeping it alive.
The Orients, Kensington All Stars and All Star Entertainers delighted with their English Moppies.
It was a great day for the klopse fraternity, a great day for all the teams, in fact, I’m glad I am not a judge in this competition - it’s going to be tough!
I’m looking forward to this weekend when the winners of section one will be crowned.
This carnival has not been won by any specific team yet, both sections are too tight to call and it will be decided by the final performances on the final day of each section.
With that said, keep it coming. I have a feeling the group song category is going to be the most spectacular we have yet witnessed, so see you at the finals.
I also left Athlone Stadium briefly on Saturday and went to check out the competition at Florida Park.
Well, that stadium perhaps is not the best venue but when I entered, I was greeted warmly by Aunty Gertie of Valhalla Park Entertainers and as I looked around, I have to say the spirit of carnival was alive.
Luigi’s voice was filling up the arena and the teams did not drop their level in the least. They, too, were competing on a high standard.
I got to listen to Valhalla Park Entertainers’ Juvenile Combine chorus, the kids were all from the klopse’s home town and they sang with such pride.
Before they started singing, I said to the pak “julle moet mooi sing” and one kid who, I guess is the speaker, reckons to me “ons sing altyd mooi, uncle”. And they did just that. Hulle het baie mooi gesing.
I also got to see the Shoprite Pennsylvanians do their world-class record-breaking Grand March Pass, an item that they won 15 years in a row. Well done, CTMCA.