[This opinion piece first appeared in the 30 June 2022 edition of the Cape Argus newspaper.]
by Nazeem Davids
Cape Town Town communities love their traditions and culture. The love of Malay choirs and minstrels transcends generations, and has over the years created unbreakable bonds between many in these fraternities.
To many people, Malay choirs in particular are a connection to an identity that they are proud to be associated with. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic has had catastrophic effects on our communities and cultural activities, and many events had to be cancelled.
Cape Town’s world-renowned, unique and well-loved Cape Malay choir culture and tradition was silenced by the pandemic for almost two years.
The setting aside of the remaining lockdown regulations last week was reason enough for a celebration. There could be no better come-together for the lovers of Cape Malay singing than a Nederlandse evening.
A Nederlandse evening celebrates the traditional songs initially sung 300 years ago by slaves and prisoners on the ships en route to the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch colonies in the Far East.
The Nederlandse liedjie is a beloved part of Cape Malay choir singing. It is sung by a lead singer with a group, who sing and sway to the tune and rhythm of the liedjie (as it is commonly known). It is believed that this swaying comes from when the slaves on the ships sang their songs to the movement of the ship on the sea.
The Cape Malay Choir Board’s (CMCB) champion choir and Silver Fez holders, Ottomans Sporting Club, recently hosted the first Nederlandse evening after about two years.
Members from various Malay choirs in Cape Town assembled to render stirring renditions of a number of the Nederlandse liedjie classics. Lead singing maestros Armien Vardien, Roesdien Dramat and Faadiel Waggie led an array of talented, aspiring young successors to entertain the audience, and they did not disappoint.
Ottoman Sporting Club has a rich and proud history. The choir was established in 1949 in Pentz Street, Bo-Kaap by founder members Ganief Jaffer, Mogamat Dante, EB Dollie, S Fataar, Ismail Dollie, Ismail Moos, Abdullah Dante (Kaana), F Moos, G Jacobs, A Moos & Mogamat Ganief Dramat.
Most members came from District Six, Salt River, the Bo-Kaap and De Waterkant areas.
The rehearsals, under the auspices of coaches Boeta Ganief Jaffer, Gamza and Ismail Dante, were held at the residences of the Dante, Pansarey and Charles families in the Bo-Kaap.
During the late ‘90s the choir, while remaining an affiliate of the CMCB (for reasons beyond their control) withdrew from the annual CMCB choral competitions and were inactive for a several years.
At the turn of the century, chairman Armien Sterras and life president Ganief Dante, along with a few of the older members of the club, decided to re-enter competitions. Their outstanding performances since then are largely attributed to the brilliant collaborative efforts between the late Abduragmaan “Boy” Davids and lyricist Ismail Davids.
In recent years, Ottoman SC have proudly earned themselves the title in the Malay Choir fraternity as the
Combined Chorus Kings. The new dynamic coaching team of head coach Ameer Williams, Moosa Parker and Rafeeq Domingo has steered the choir to even greater heights.
In 2018 the choir won the inaugural Heritage Cup competition at the Artscape Theatre as well at the prestigious Top 8 of the CMCB. In 2019, the year of the club’s 70th anniversary, Ottoman SC made a clean sweep by winning their sectional competition, the Top 8 and the coveted Silver Fez, for the first time in the choir’s existence.
With their unusual and beautiful harmonies, Ottoman SC has set the bar high in Cape Malay choir singing competition.
Like other choirs, Ottomans SC have managed to attract talented youth to the club, and hopefully this will ensure that the beautiful culture and traditions of Cape Malay choir singing is not lost.
In welcoming nearly 400 people to the event, Ottoman SC secretary and CMCB vice-president Fatima Abrahams said “from the support shown to celebrate this event, is a clear indication that this culture isn’t dying”.
I have to agree with her. It is our responsibility, and should be our honour, to carry on these rich traditions for the generations to come.
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