The Keep The Dream (KTD) Malay choir board celebrated their tenth anniversary last Friday with an official event which took place in Surrey Estate.
I can hardly believe that it’s been a decade when I attended the launch of this board which was held at the Good Hope Centre at the time.
I remember on that day they made their intention clear: they wanted to celebrate the memory of our icons and pay tribute to their legacies.
Awards were handed out to moppie writers and singers, as well as combine coaches and persons who served the culture in an administrative capacity.
I left the Good Hope Centre feeling proud because it is one thing for a club to pay tribute to its members and coaches, but in this case the board itself took the initiative to show their appreciation to these honourable gentlemen.
Ten years later and they are still going strong.
The theme of the night was “An Evening of Honours”, and the KTD choir board not only remembered and commemorated the deceased members of their fraternity, but also honoured their past presidents as well as those who have moved on to the forum.
HOLDING THE TUNE: The Keep The Dream choir members uitgevat in blue and white. Picture: Supplied.
They especially remembered al marghoom Nazeem Benjamin for his unselfish contribution to our culture and for being a founding member of Keep The Dream choir board.
They also remembered those that contributed to the establishment of the board, such as the late Isgack Latief, Omar van Schalkwyk and hadjie Irfaan Jacobs, may Allah be pleased with all of them.
The title of honorary president was awarded to several former presidents of the board for their contribution to this culture, namely Ebrahim Hull, Shamiel Benjamin and Anwar Gambeno.
A special award was bestowed upon Moegamad Shahied Benjamin who has taken up a position in the forum alongside Shamiel Benjamin.
Shahied Benjamin had previously served as manager and later as vice president of the board.
DECADE: Mense at board's anniversary event. Picture: Supplied.
On Sunday, the commemorations were continued with a Quran recital and thikr programme at the Manaarul Huda Masjid in Manenberg.
The programme was hosted by the MZ Benjamin and Family Foundation, in honour of haafith Saadiq Petersen, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Starlites male choir and, of course, the 10th anniversary of the Keep The Dream choir board.
Speakers included the new KTD board president, Mogamat Salih Davids, Ebrahim Hull, esteemed members of the ulama and the president of the Cape Malay Choir Board, Shafiek April.
The central message was the promotion of a new way of organising and developing our cultural expression.
Only through strong clubs can the board be strong, and through the efforts of the board, the true meaning of democracy, fairness and transparency from the ground up can be inculcated.
However, the club remains the centre of the board and therefore the board and the forum should always put the interest of the clubs first.
CELEBRATION: Full support for event in Manenberg. Picture: Supplied.
The vision was again expressed that the youth and their involvement in the tradition remains a long-term investment.
Further, to promote and develop our culture without losing our footing in tradition.
On 21 December the KTD board will have their annual draw for the choral competition starting on 22 February 2020 at the Cape Town City Hall.
There will also be a big announcement by the KTD forum in the next week or two, so watch out for that on their social platforms.
With that said, for me it is wonderful and delightful to see this board staying true to their values.