The has to be one of the longest minstrel seasons in the history of our culture.
We have the marching finals of the Cape Malay Choir Board and the Nazeem Benjamin Cup of Keep the Dream that’s still coming.
For many klops and Malay choir lovers the season began in July last year already, and with the nagtroep season kicking off one week after the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Assosiasie’s Champ of Champs competition, it is understandable that many of us are now tired en uitgejol after this lengthy minstrel marathon.
It was an amazing season, though, and as I reflect on it I feel the need to single out the “finds of the season” for both klopse and Malay choirs.
Let us begin with the Combine Chorus. My find of the season has to be the Baruch Entertainers, the sound of them singing Jerusalem still lingers in my memory and even after watching the Malay choir competitions, they still remain the stand-out performers on this item across the board.
I thank you, Baruch, for this wonderful memory you have blessed us with.
As far as Moppie is concerned, the find of the season has to be Mujaahid Isaacs of Boarding Boys who won the highest percentage for a Moppie song when he sang Die Toi Toi, a moppie which was first sung by his grandfather, Boeta Dickie Vlieg.
Fittingly, he won just like his grandfather did so many years ago.
I have seen this young man in action. He is talented, has an ear for music and definitely deserves the Moppie singer find of the season.
With regards to coaches, the prize has to go to Ameer Williams, who coached the Juvie Boys to a first prize group song and two second prize combines.
Then, moving on to the Malay choir season, he coached the Ottomons to the first prize combine in the CMCB’s Top Ten.
I believe Ameer is destined to be one of the greats in all formats of this culture.
The Adult Sentimental is always a tough one, but this year it was quite easy to pick a favourite, and that is the senior soloist of Xtreme Minstrels, Dillon Gaffley.
PLEASING TO THE EAR: Taariq Abrahams
This young man has shot to superstar status with his rendition of Ed Sheeran’s hit song Thinking Out Loud and is my find of the season on this item.
In the Nederlandslied category I have two finds, the Nederlands protégé Taariq Abrahams, who sang a first prize lied for Legends Singkoor in the section.
The sensitive approach and sweetness possessed by this young man is what makes him so uniquely different on this item.
He renders the Nederlandslied as if he is singing in plain old English or Afrikaans and which is quite pleasing on the ear.
The second find of the season in this category is Aashiq Carelse, a young man who started out as a Juvenile soloist and is now the lead singer for Parkdales Singkoor.
A few years ago I worked with his father, Nederlands legends Ashraf Carelse, and I can confirm that this young man has indeed inherited his dad’s magic.
Congratulations to all of you, who have blessed us with something new and refreshing this season.
We need to stand together and pay tribute to our brothers and sisters if they perform well, and not complain and fight when we lose.
In the end, remember we are all ambassadors for this culture and, just like a sweater that is stained in borrie and we don’t wear it again, so too people will distance themselves from our culture if we continue to blemish it with negative posts on social media.
I understand that some people see social media as a way to let off some steam, but rather spend that energy on really important issues like the proposed increases to our water and krag prices.
It just does not make sense to fight each other and break down our sport and culture over a first prize trophy.
Let’s rather celebrate each other and spread positivity around this beautiful heritage of ours.
I am of the belief that with positivity we can only become greater!
With that said I am looking forward to the marching this Saturday and to see who will be crowned with the Silver Fez for 2018.