by Nazeem Davids
In 2017, Claude Jonas realised a dream and with fellow directors Warren Ruiters and Oscar Cornelius, established the super troupe Baruch Entertainers, named after his company Baruch Marketing Management Solutions.
His company had always been involved in community upliftment projects and this was a natural progression of his love for the Kaapse Klopse culture. Baruch Entertainers was arguably the first troupe from the northern suburbs of Cape Town that could compete with the big, established troupes from the City Bowl and Cape Flats. A new, worthy contender had arrived.
By tapping into the huge pool of vocal and musical talents at his disposal, Jonas did not disappoint in his first year.
After tremendous choral renderings with a particularly rousing English combined chorus, Baruch Entertainers took the section 1 title at the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) minstrel competition in 2018. No mean feat indeed.
Baruch finished second in the Champs of Champs competition in February 2018, earning the respect and admiration of the Klopse fraternity. Baruch proved it was no fluke the following year with a creditable second place.
In 2020 Baruch again won their section of the KKKA competition, finishing second with the highest points overall to just miss out on the Carnival Kings crown.
The Baruch directors initiated a music teaching programme for interested youth.
“This includes reading musical notes as well as playing musical instruments. We develop potential talents and create opportunities for them to further and pursue opportunities in music,” Jonas says.
“The music school consists of four qualified tutors, products from our own community, who have developed into some of the best young musicians in Cape Town. Their willingness to teach others less privileged has not just been inspirational, but heart-warming. The music school is headed by accomplished and revered musicians Kevin Fisher, Kyle Daniels, Laeeq Stewart and Carlton Adams.”
After initially being based in Elsies River, the troupe moved their clubroom to the Blackpool Hall in Shelley Road, Salt River, to accommodate the growing family and throngs of spectators.
The discipline and professionalism displayed by the Baruch management team also attracted many Klopse veterans to the troupe, adding to their credibility. Preparations for the 2023 carnival are steaming along.
The building excitement is evident everywhere and Sunday brass band rehearsals are well attended. On the choral side, Jonas is confident. He says: “We are fervently preparing for this competition. We have won our section two out of three times and ending second is the lowest position we have finished in our history.
“We are the reigning Klopse Jol and English combined chorus (title) holders. The English combined chorus we have won three times in a row with an average choral rating of 96%. Our members come from across the Western Cape and include many from the rural areas where many great talents exist.
“Monwabisi Mbambani is our champion choir master and he is recognised as one of the very best in South Africa. We have acquired the services of Rameez Solomon Carter as our moppie coach, a multiple winner in the category, and we have a strong creative team to work on all our other items. Baruch means business.”
The current Baruch executive directors team consists of Jonas, Ruiters, Cornelius, Shaun Lakey, Yusuf Davids and Faizal Cassiem. Anthony Rhode heads up the working committee, a phenomenal team of men and women who have embraced the Baruch vision. They form the organisation's core and are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to fundraising and organising.
“We are looking forward to an exciting minstrel season after such a long and dark time.
“The troupe and our supporters are hungry for Klopse and we will be participating in honour of the many loved ones, members and supporters we lost through the Covid-19 pandemic, especially our late president Mr William Cornelius and former bandmaster Mr Abba Adams.
“Be assured we will be exciting and innovative as always and the crowds are in for something truly special,” Jonas says.
Judging by the amazing vibe present at Baruch Entertainers, I don’t doubt that for one moment.
* Nazeem Davids.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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