I found myself at the Artscape theatre yesterday at the filming of the Jive Culture Shock competition, the first ever online Klopse and Malay choir competition.
When I arrived at the venue in the Cape Town CBD, I could feel the sense of excitement as the teams stood outside practising their items.
It reminded me of the days at the Good Hope Centre when the teams would also stand outside and sing.
It felt a bit strange seeing and hearing the sound of Malay and Klopse music in the middle of the pandemic, but it was a lekker feeling as always.
As I made my way inside, there were strict Coronavirus protocols at the door and then you could make your way into the venue with your mask on of course.
One could sense it was a finale because the lighting states plotted was on another level, soema gevaarlik.
As I watched the teams participate, I could not help but feel proud of how well put together it all was.
For the first time, a Nederlandslied was being sung in a proper theatrical environment and the innovation of some teams has added a growth and excitement to the item.
Loukmaan Adams was on stage directing everything from the band to the sound to the lights.
It was good to see him in this role of director, he looked comfortable and at ease.
Two of the teams pulled out due to technical reasons, but the show continued without them.
There was an abundance of star power in the theatre and no matter where I turned, I’d bump into someone influential who of course only spoke about the phenomenon of Culture Shock.
The first person that I met was Yusuf Daniels, the bestselling author of Living Coloured, who said: “This brings back so much bef*kte memories when I used to wear my kwas-koefiyah and bottle green suit. Culture Shock is lekker.”
As I turned around I spotted Boeta Maan Adams, the original moppie king himself, who also serves as a judge on the competition.
“Vir my issit something great, die culture het dit makeer en ek admire hulle thinking om die ding te sit op die level,” he said.
“Ek wil net oek sê, dis niks om die level te lig nie maar ons moet die culture maintain.
“Die overseas mense ken die culture soe ons moet dit lig.
So dai is hoekom dit important is om Culture Shock te laat groei.”
One of the innovations coming out of this competition is the singpak performing moves, usually they would just sway behind the lead singers.
Asked about this, judge Ameen Vardien said: “Innie ou dae het hulle oek gejol oppie liedjies as dit met ’n gallop beat gespeel word.
“We are ready for the future so lank hulle net nie bollemakiesie maakie,” he joked.
Judge Felicia Lesche says with shows like Culture Shock, the future of Klops and Malay singing looks bright.
“I think it’s a fabulous initiative that has brought us to the future of the culture while still maintaining integrity, and it’s so nice that a girl sang a junior solo.”
Audience member Shameemah Jacobs was thrilled about the show and said: “I felt like I was watching a full on Klopse musical.”
Judge Terry Fortune agreed and said: “I am loving every moment of sharing the culture and I am enjoying my job as an adjudicator.”
With that said, the finale taking place this weekend is not to be missed because the teams really gave it their best over the past few weeks.
This culture-meets-theatre fusion is one of the best things to happen to Klops and it will only continue to grow.
Loukmaan Adams and his team at Oddball have a winning recipe that is going to be around long after the Coronavirus has gone.
The three teams in the final are PSV, Clean Team Star Crooners and Alchemy Cultural Entertainers.
Go out and purchase your ticket on Quicket now, for the final which is being live streamed on Saturday at 8pm.
It is going to be so gevaarlik and tickets only cost R65.