Cape Malay choir fans, brace yourselves for the biggest Top 10 competition yet.
The Cape Malay Choir Board (CMCB) and its teams are ready to deliver a spectacular top 10 and light up the Bellville Velodrome with the melodious sounds of banjos and guitars, kapdraaie en karingkels, and an abundance of social commentary through lekker rhythmic moppies.
This year the competition is at peak level, seeing almost all the big teams qualifying for the finale with a few newbies making their debut appearances, which is always a good thing.
Shafiek April, the president of the CMCB, and his delegates have their ducks in a row as far as staging the competition is concerned, and things have been running smoothly and on time thus far.
The venue, the Velodrome, has been a talking point this season with many reckoning that it’s not suited for Malay choir singing and that it lacks ambience.
This is true to a certain extent, but any performer worth his or her salt will tell you that it does not matter what the venue is, as long as it’s a full house, it can bring out the best in any performer.
TROPHY TIME: CMCB victors with spoils
I trust that all the Cape Malay choir fans will come out in full swing to support this unique culture come Saturday.
The sections have proven that the teams have once again raised the bar, troupes are constantly innovating items like the Nederlandsliedjie and the Moppie.
This change is welcomed by April, who says: “We have to move forward and can’t sing in 2018 the same way we sang over 80 years ago.”
It is good to know that the CMCB welcomes change and innovation, this contributes positively to the creative process and growth of our culture.
Some people prefer the old way of singing, which, to them, is the only authentic style of Moppie or Nederlands.
I think they have this attitude because it is simply what they know and how their coaches have taught them.
Now I don’t believe the authentic way could ever be wrong, it is what this culture was built on.
But we must evolve, and we must move forward within the guidelines, of course.
So, well done to the CMCB for endorsing the future and for showing that the board is run by open-minded indivi- duals who have the best intentions with regards to growing and keeping this culture alive.
The teams who will be participating in the Top 10 this weekend include the Legends, Young Men, Ottomans, Studente, Boarding Boys, Caballeros, Rangers, Strelitzia, Zinnias and the Marines.
The line-up speaks for itself and, like I said before, this promises to be a tough Nederlands Top 10.
All of these teams have won either first or second place in their respective sections, at times by less than one percent difference.
The Nederlands is the item that defines this particular culture with the fusion of the Cape Malay style of karingkel singing and the western style of choral singing.
YOUNG, FRESH TALENT: Fuad Richards Jnr.
I love how the youngsters are shining in the Nederlands this season.
It’s like the legends have all taken a step back and they are now showcasing our future Nederland s stars, and I must say, die klongens se karingkel laat jou hoendervel kry!
I always hear stories of daai tyd toe Ismail Galant en Fuad Richards nog gesing het, toe was die hall gepak. Well, it’s time for us to show that same support to our youngsters.
I also popped in at the President’s Cup on Saturday and would like to congratulate Monox Adams and Parkdales on winning the first prize Moppie, and Lizl Gaffley and the Manhattans for taking the first prize for Combine Chorus.It’s always good ending the season on a high note.
A big congratulations to Morning Glories on winning the President’s Cup and Nederlands.
It was a tough competition with so many top teams competing, but you came away victorious, so baie slamat.
Doors for the Top 10 at the Velodrome on Saturday open at 12pm and the competition starts at 2.30pm.
Entry costs R85 and R120 for reserved tickets. Pensioners pay R60 for reserved tickets and R40 normal seating. Kiddies pay R40.