With the Kaapse Klopse and Malay choirs not being able to host their annual competitions for a second year in a row, we happily welcome back The Jive Culture Shock online Kaapse Klopse and Malay choir competition.
When the concept of online klopse was introduced last year, I am sure many people had their doubts and thought it would be a fly-by-night concept that would maybe last for one season.
The Oddball Concepts team have however been able to keep the show alive along with sponsors who have invested in our beautiful culture during the pandemic.
And now we are set to once more be entertained by some lekker moppies and liedjies in the comfort of our homes.
If the first season was anything to go by then we are in for a real treat this year as well, and the teams have already started to practise for the new online competition.
One of the teams participating in the Jive Culture shock competition this year is The Cultural Entertainers.
The group was established in 2020 by a group of friends who were asked to get a team together as a late entry, due to another team withdrawing from the competition at the last minute.
While many teams mostly consisted of guys who perform together at a Klopse or Malay choirs team, the management of The Cultural Entertainers took on the task to handpick individuals from different teams to show that the perceived rivalry and hatred amongst teams is completely irrelevant and adds no value.
They were labelled many names by different people, like the All Blacks, the Dream Team and they were even called the Cheat Code.
All these names created great expectation for them to deliver something amazing or else the team would be considered a failure.
In season 1, the Cultural Entertainers were nicknamed ACE, after their sponsor, but now they go by the YMA Cultural Entertainers.
The team’s spokesperson Aqeel Hartley says: “We have made a small reshuffle in management structures and this year we have Wafeeq Soeker, Shameer Isaacs, Mukhtaar Abrahams, Shafee Ganief and Adnaan Wickstrom taking up the responsibility as management to make sure everything runs smoothly.
“In Season 1 we experienced great success, we walked away with top honours for the Nederlandslied, Afrikaanse Moppie and a split first place draw for English Comic.”
He adds that they are well on their way with preparations for season two and that the team wants to better their performance.
Aqeel says that the masterminds pulling the strings behind their performances are seasoned liedjie singer and coach Faeez Abrahams, and MD Raaziq Manuel, a pairing that has already proven to be one to keep an eye on.
YMA Cultural Entertainers’ social media plan for Season 2 is a little bit different, which Aqeel will run himself.
He says that the team is slowly teasing viewers with daily reveals of members old and new and plan on releasing content that for now has to remain a secret.
All they can say is that the first big surprise will be announced tomorrow (Friday) at 4pm.
“We look forward to doing our best to entertain the supporters of our beautiful culture, let’s make Season 2 unforgettable,” he says.
With that said, I am just glad, in fact, overjoyed, that our culture is being kept alive during this difficult time and I look forward to seeing what these talented performers have in store for us.
The culture is constantly changing and Oddball Concepts and these youngsters are showing that it can survive in a completely different environment, so much respect to them.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za