The klopse season is in full swing - klopskamers are open and the manne are making their way to practices for the season ahead.
The previous minstrel season was one for the books and I think we are set to have a gevaarlike season come 2019 as the owners intend to step up their game to come out even bigger and better than before.
One fan favourite has to be the team previously known as the All Stars Entertainers.
Last year they came out tops in their section and were crowned the carnival kings of Section 2, which was by no means an easy task.
This year they are coming out even harder and have strengthened their team with the addition of two Combine coaches, namely Sam Crouch and Eddy Agatha.
This should, hopefully, get them closer to winning the precious Combine item which was dominated last season by Baruch Entertainers and the D6 Entertainers.
With Tariq Blignaut remaining as their Moppie and Group Song coach, the All Stars look set to make a huge impact on the singing items of the carnival this year.
The team started their campaign for the 2019 season by renaming themselves the West London All Stars.
They hail from Athlone, so historically this makes a lot of sense, as Athlone was known as West London back in the day.
The owner of the team, Waleed Hendricks, says: “We now have a name that defines our heritage and when people speak of the West London All Stars they will know, without anyone having to explain it to them, that we are the klopse vannie Athlone, met die massive band wat die salon aanie brand maak elke festive season.”
The West London All Stars will be playing the carnival under the banner of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) which has again been awarded the tender for the stadiums by the City of Cape Town after a successful and well-run carnival last season.
The West London All Stars have already launched their theme song for the coming season on Bush Radio.
This was also the first theme song reveal of the season, once again proving this team is in this game to innovate, create and set new standards, sticking to their slogan ‘ons kom soes donderweer en mors op jou bors’.
Mr. Hendricks say Lorenzo Blignaut has been named as the bandmaster this year and they will have about 150 instruments e n ’n klompie jingles.
“Ons gaan die jaar die dak vannie stadium laat lig en die klopse game en die standard van die game na ’n ander level toe vat, so die teame sal maar moet uitkyk vir West London want ons intend om die hele carnival te dominate,” says Hendricks.
They are kickstarting their season with a fundraiser in the form of a high tea to help assist with administration costs.
The high tea will also feature a strong line-up of local entertainers, so besides lekker kos, you’re also getting entertainment.
The high tea takes place this Saturday at Belgravia High School and starts at 8pm.
The line-up includes the boy from Bo-Kaap, Mujahid George, as well as Waseef Piekaan and more.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 084 970 1788.
There will be lots of prizes up for grabs and the brand new West London All Stars tracksuit will also be launched at the event.
The public and All Stars supporters can then look forward to seeing the team in Bo-Kaap on Sunday, 30 September.
With that said, klopse is a game van brag en grootpraat which sounds bad when I say it like this, but it really just means everyone talks a big game, but the proof of the pudding lies in the delivery.
One thing I have, however, learnt about Waleed Hendricks over the past three years since the establishment of his team is that, when he says go big or go home, he means it. So I expect this season of the West London All Stars to be its biggest season yet.
Over the years I’ve seen many new teams opening, coming with a bang that first year, but then by the end of that season dan maak die klops toe.
This, thankfully, has not been the case with Waleed’s West London team. They have remained focused, building their team stronger each year and growing in maturity.
One thing is for sure, with the biggest minstrel troupe of the 2019 season, the West London All Stars are here to stay.