The minstrel season is now officially in full swing with the Kaapse klopse voorsmakie behind us.
The voorsmakie this year was not a full-on event funded by the City or by the boards, it was just kept alive by the individual troupes.
None of the teams walked in the CBD as there was no permit to do so, but almost all the teams did their road marches in their areas.
Cape Town was alive on Monday, bands and troupes were determined to give the people a show and all over town het die ding geruk.
It is often said that we, as a fraternity, need the necessary security structures in place in order to do an event of such magnitude because things can easily get out of hand.
OLD FAVOURITES: Baruch Entertainers march oppit
This was the one time that we proved many klops haters wrong because the discipline showed by all the troupes was amazing.
They showed that the game of klops comes from the people and it was done in a professional manner.
Teams posted their routes on Facebook and kept the fans updated as to where they were and when.
The people still came out to see their much-loved klopse, some even came from other provinces to be part of the voorsmakie, and I am now starting to believe it is an innovation that is here to stay.
There is always talk of this one and that one trying to steal this culture from us, but klops is like those taxi owners who started driving a route no matter how people wish for them to go away.
It is just simply impossible - they know the business because they started the business.
VAT ’N BLAASKANSIE: A member of the D6 minstrel group hard at it at the voorsmakie
This was evident with this year’s voorsmakie. Nobody needed any guidance as to how to do it; we created it and we executed it.
I believe that if klopse were allowed to walk in the CBD, they would have pulled it off too.
Klops owners know that certain people tend to frown upon this sport, and I guess this is why they too are becoming protective over our beautiful culture and showcasing intellect and discipline.
To fully understand what happened on Monday, let me explain it this way: it is basically a rugby match that took place with no sponsors, no City or government funding, just the teams pulling off the entire event on their own.
It is times like these that I am proud to be affiliated with this culture and, to top it all, everybody came out and gave the people a gevaarlike show.
For me, the standout teams on the day were the new kids on the block Playaz Inc, the West London All Stars, D6 Raw, Baruch Entertainers and the always pleasing Juvie Boys.
Hulle het soema lekker deurgekom!
This has set up Tweede Nuwe Jaar in a big way, now everybody is excited to see just what the klopse have in store for us and with the type of discipline showed by all the klopse at the voorsmakie, it is sure to be a magnificent Tweede Nuwe Jaar.
The plak shown by all the klopse should be an eye-opener to the City.
Without any of the klopse realising it, they sent a strong message that whether the City endorses our culture or not, funds it or not, we love it and it will happen with or without them.
SEEING RED: West London klops members were out in full force
I am proud of every klops and every klopse baas who made this past voorsmakie a success.
More than that, I am proud that everybody saw to it the klopse name was held high and that regardless of funding, all of them took their teams to the pad and showed the people that the culture belongs to us.
With that said, it is time for us to also make the City and funders aware of this event and make them realise just how important it has become to our people.
Well done to everyone and may you all continue to grow this culture in this positive manner and may the discipline showcased on Monday filter into the big Tweede Nuwe Jaar jol.