CULTURAL HEROES - Cape Town celebrates the legacy of Taliep Petersen and David Kramer
The Kramer and Petersen families share a warm moment with the public at the Nelson Mandela statue before the Freedom of the City ceremony at City Hall, hosted by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
CAPE Town honoured two of their most famous cultural icons - the late Taliep Petersen and David Kramer - with the Freedom of the City Award.
Petersen and Kramer created classic Kaapse entertainment with their musicals, including District Six and Kat and the Kings. Their masterpieces have been the standards on which Cape Flats entertainers hone their craft.
Tuesday's emotional ceremony at the City Hall brought together the Kramer and Petersen families stood together, watching the guard of honour and warmly waving to members of the public who had gathered to share in the moment.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis awarded the City’s highest civic honour to two of its most loved and cherished cultural icons, David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen.
This marked the first awarding of the Freedom of the City in Cape Town in almost a decade.
In his address, the Mayor paid tribute to the lasting legacy of both artists, saying: "Thanks to you, David Kramer and Taliep Petersen, future generations will know not only what happened here, but how it felt. They will hear our accents, laugh at our jokes, feel our spirit, dance with the ghoema, and then rise with the hope of a city that is richer, and more whole, because of you. The City of Cape Town is proud to bestow the Freedom of the City on David Kramer and Taliep Petersen.
Quoting District Six: The Musical, the Mayor said: “Dis nie myne nie, dis nie joune nie. This place lives in us.”
Artists perform during the tribute show honouring David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen at the Freedom of the City ceremony.
Image: TARA ISAACS
In Petersen’s case, the award was made posthumously and accepted by his family, following his tragic passing in 2006.
David Kramer, however, was present in person to receive the Freedom of the City award.
Together, they now take their place alongside some of Cape Town’s greatest heroes, including President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The Petersen family signed the ceremonial scroll on behalf of their beloved father and grandfather.
Taliep’s eldest daughter, Jawaahier Petersen, who signed the scroll, shared that instead of simply accepting the award on her father’s behalf, she felt as though she was standing at the podium speaking directly to him and congratulating him on his success.
Taliep Petersen’s Freedom of the City scroll is held by his daughter, Jawaahier, during the ceremony at Cape Town City Hall.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
“We are so proud of you daddy,” she said.
Kramer, wearing his signature black hat and red ‘velskoene’ (vellies), grew visibly emotional during his speech.
He said he wished his partner was still present to share in the auspicious occasion with him. Petersen was stabbed to death in 2006 and his wife Najwa Dirk was convicted of his murder.
In lighter moments, he joked about whether the award and the signing of the scroll would grant him special privileges in Cape Town, such as free parking or the right to let cattle graze in open fields in the city centre.
“For many years, I’ve been thinking that there should be a statue of a man beating the ghoema drum in the city. And in that way, even when the wind isn’t blowing, you can still feel the heartbeat of the city,” he said.
“I am honoured to receive this award and be recognised with heroes such as the great Nelson Mandela."