It's that time of the year to take out your rooi koefiyahs, banjos, guitars en gummies because the Cape Malay Choirs are in town.
The karinkel will take centre stage and moppies are being sung the authentic minstrel way met banjos en gummies, so mense, die Kaap is weer Hollands.
The Cape Malay Choir Board competition has officially kicked off on Saturday at the City Hall. On Friday evening the first section took to the stage, featuring the Legends, Morning Glories, Rangers, Strelitzias and Primroses.
The section was won by Strelitzia, who also took top honours for their Moppie and Senior Sentimental.
The success of this team is mostly due to their head coach, Raeez Domingo, who is one of the youngest coaches in the fraternity.
KLAS: Strelitzia coach Raeez Domingo. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Domingo also played a huge part as the lead singer of the Moppie song which got them the first prize.
It is people like him who give me hope that this authentic Cape Malay culture will stay alive for another hundred years.
The other team who basked in the spotlight on Friday night was the Primroses, who won first prize in the Nederlandslied category.
The lied was led by Riedewaan Galant, who has once again proven why he is known as the Elvis of the Nederlandslied.
The Combine Chorus of Primroses echoed hope for Bo-Kaap.
PERFORMANCE: The Strelitzias stood proud as the Section 1 winners this weekend. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
The song was coached by Ziyaad Hattas who is fast becoming one of the big names on this item, and this first prize, I believe, has cemented his place in the top 3 combine coaches of his generation.
The originality of his lyrical content is what is making him stand out.
On the night, it was Strelitzia’s consistency on all the items that pushed them to a mighty 30 points, which now means they are in a good position to win the Koefiyah, which is the biggest prize in this competition.
I can tell you now already that it’s going be tough to catch the Strellies, want hulle kan march.
In Section Two we saw the Extremes, Manhattans, Young Ideas, Young Zinnias and Ottomans.
It was a clean sweep by the Otties, who were in top form and walked away with all the prizes.
They won first prize in Combine, Moppie, Solo, Nederlandslied and even Best Dress.
STERLING: Rafeeq Domingo for the Ottomans. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Their coach, Ameer Williams, deserves much credit for this because he is really pushing the Ottomans to the next level.
Ghakeem Roman was once again at his best for the Ottomans, showcasing why he is considered to be the best and most comical voorsinger in the board.
His facial expressions coupled with his begaailike dance moves makes him the most complete moppie singer, and it’s understandable why the Ottomans won first prize.
Rafeeq Domingo also delivered a sterling performance on the Nederlandslied for Ottomans and he now has a keepsake trophy which has catapulted him into Cape Malay greatness.
I am sure they still miss Boeta Boy Ragham who passed away last year, but he too would be proud of the direction that his much loved team is moving into, so well done Ameer Williams.
One of the standout performers on the night on the Moppie song was the talented Shadley Schroeder, still high on his first prize at the klopse, and now following it up with a second prize moppie.
TALENTED: Shadley Schroeder doing the Moppie. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
The young man had a good klopse season and is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with.
With that said, it is good to have the Malay Choirs back at the newly revamped City Hall.
I look forward to the next two sections which take place this weekend.
On Friday night, the teams that will be competing are the Marines, Cape Proteas and Starlites.
On Sunday you can go and support the Angeliere, Parkdales, Young Cabelleros, Young Men and Shoprite Jonge Studente.
To the Cape Malay Choir Board, well done on presenting a well run event.