Shahied “Hiedie Boy” Simons, the senior director of the District 6 Entertainers, is now also the new chairman of the Kaapse Klopse Karnivaal Assosiasie (KKKA).
Mr Simons broke the news to me via a telephone call this week, saying he has been appointed the chairman of the KKKA and is excited to bring his unique set of klopse skills to the table and help the popular minstrel body to build on the platform that was laid this past season.
Mr Simons plays klops hard, he plays to win and his team, D6 Raw, already has four carnival wins and the 2018 KKKA Champs of Champs trophy under their belt.
The new chairman is charismatic, likeable, charming and open-minded enough to see the bigger picture.
So what is the bigger picture?
In order to obtain this answer I spoke to Muneeb Gambeno, the spokesperson of the KKKA, who then made it clear that the KKKA has appointed certain individuals in new positions because “this board is not a dictatorship” and only the best people for each position were chosen.
TRANSPARENCY: Muneeb Gambeno, KKKA spokesperson. Photo: DAVID RITCHIE/INLSA
Gambeno said it is important for the KKKA to remain transparent for them to take the carnival to the next level.
He said the appointment of Mr. Simons as the chairman was not the only change made, they also have two new chief financial officers, namely Shaun Lakay and Waleed Hendricks.
This tells us the KKKA is aware that the carnival may be an entertainment spectacle, but the business side is equally important.
I know that Waleed Hendricks - owner of West London All Stars, the section 2 winners of the KKKA carnival competition - is a successful sole proprietor and one hopes that this success will filter into the management of our culture.
These are the only two reveals which were given to me, but Gambeno remained firm when he said that the KKKA is a collective of people with equal status, no person is bigger than this culture and no position is more important than the other.
What is important is to make the carnival sustainable and the KKKA feels confident that the people that they appointed are competent and talented enough to do the job.
I also bumped into Melvyn “Mellie” Matthews, who was instrumental in the establishment and conception of the KKKA and still holds a high position in the structure.
Mr Matthews said: “I am excited for the events unfolding with regards to the KKKA, we had a phenomenal season of klops en nou kom almal.”
This almal are some of the other klopse teams in Cape Town who did not participate in the previous KKKA season.
I can reveal that with the appointment of Shaun Lakay on the board, we will have new kids on the block in the form of Playaz coming next season and Mr Matthews mentioned that Hip Hops is back this season.
The passion and the love of klopse is evident when speaking to Mr Matthews, he is like a fountain of knowledge and carries the history of this culture in his heart.
APPOINTED: Shahied "Hiedie Boy" Simons is now KKKA chairman
Every second word that comes from his lips is about how klops started, taking you back more than 100 years, and him still remembering the names of those influential persons who gifted us with this much-loved culture.
Surely no one can deny that klops runs through his veins and this is an important characteristic which is needed to drive our culture.
I am not familiar with exactly which position Mr Matthews holds on the board of the KKKA - I could not get any information out of him regarding the board - but for me he is the heart of the organisation.
I, for one, am looking forward to the next season with the positive changes being made by the KKKA and wish all the new indivi- duals on board the best of luck.
Just like Mr Matthews I, too, cannot wait, and judging by this season past, 2019 is going to be even bigger and better.
In my opinion, this beautiful culture of klops can function on love only.
However, it needs business sense to create longevity and sustainability and the KKKA is well on track to creating the perfect balance, which is of utmost importance.
With that said, congratulations to the new manne on board the ship that carries our cultural history.
May your positive contributions carry us forward to another 100 years, inshallah.