The Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association produced a Klopse competition of the highest quality at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
The hype started the night before when pictures of the new stage started circulating on social media.
And yes they did it because, for the first time in Klops history, the biggest cultural event in the Cape had a decent stage with lights, big screens set up, a roof and structures on each side to block out the wind.
This was a breath of fresh air for our beloved culture and I do believe it was the best investment the KKKA could have made this minstrel season; it has taken the standard of the whole klops production to the next level and I believe from here things can only get better.
Another important factor is that we are now a Computicket product, which means that anybody from around the globe can purchase a ticket to the klops spectacle.
TOP CLASS: Baruch Entertainers binne in jou oeg. Photo: SUPPLIED
We need to produce a show of an international standard and the staging was the best place to start.
As far as performances from our troupes went, the items of the day were juvenile sentimental, Afrikaans moppie, English combine and juvenile combine chorus, and the teams gave it they're all.
The standout performance for juvenile sentimental went to the young man from West London All Stars, who gave a powerful performance of the Whitney Houston classic, I have nothing, which received a standing ovation.
Anwar Abrahams from the popular Cape Town boyband, The Boys, deserves much credit as he spent weeks coaching this young man at his house to prepare him vocally and mentally for the moment.
PIONEER: Coach Taurik Blignaut
Anwar believes with proper training and enough time, more talent like this can be unearthed.
“Som van die laaities wat sing kan bietere doen as wat hulle nou sing maar die mense loep haal die kinnes twee dae voor competition and dan somtyds embarrass die kinders vir hulle wat nie fair is teenoor die kind nie,” he says.
I agree. If you want a child to sing for you, start training them long before the time in order to showcase their talent to the best of their ability.
The Baruch Entertainers was weer binne in jou oeg with the item that they love to contend for: the English combine chorus.
Their coach Monwabisi Nwayza Mbambani was once again outstanding with conducting the choir and if an award for best choir master should ever surface, I think he will be first in line to receive it.
Those coaches who conduct play a vital role and Monwa’s antics is what Baruch feeds off of, and it helps to take them to the level that they are on for combine.
My other favorites for English combine are Bright Stars, Original D6, Hanover Minstrels and West London All Stars, who were all outstanding.
And now from the combine to my most loved item: the Afrikaans moppie.
In this category, Baruch Entertainers was once again good, but it was the West London All-Stars who came out tops for their performance of Antie Poppie Die Weduwee.
West London All Stars coach Taurik Blignaut, who is well known for his gimmicks and for creating moppies that are memorable, once again took the limelight when he introduced a theatrical element at the start of his moppie.
The West London All Stars carried a casket into the arena to show Auntie Poppie at her husband’s funeral.
The moppie then went on to motivate Auntie Poppie to not give up on life or love, and ruk herself reg.
SIGNATURE: Tolla's Da Beh All-Stars jacket
She eventually ends up living happily ever after with her Ben 10.
But after all the hard work the All-Stars had put in, certain social media “judges” orchestrated an attack on the moppie, questioning the use of a funeral and casket.
They asked “what if it was an Islamic burial, would you still do it?” and expressed the need to respect all faiths.
As a moppie writer, I think if it is dealt with dignity and respect, and speaks to the moppie, it should be fine.
I don’t think Taurik had any intention of offending anyone.
For me, this looked like an attempt to demonstrate the hurt and pain many women go through when they lose their husbands.
I think people tend to be close-minded when it suits them.
Caskets have been used many times before, I remember “Michael Jackson” jumping out of one at a previous klops event.
I think Taurik needs be acknowledged for once again pushing the boundaries and for creating a moment with a moppie that will be spoken about for many years to come.
He is, as it says on his gear, “Da Beh”.
With that said, let this be the year where we as the klops supporters try and build each other up, and not needlessly search for issues to break our culture down.
The KKKA is creating a sexy positive vibe around all competitions, so don’t breek af, be lekker.