iGugu le Kapa (Pride of the Cape) is a black South African choir, with very gifted male and female singers of various ages, whose choir members live in the poorer eastern ourskirts of Cape town. Some live in extreme poverty in the 'unofficial settlement' of Khayelitsa. The roots of the style of this choir is based on singing lessons, once taught in missionary schools in Cape Town a century ago. In the Xhosa songs you will recognize the unique strong click sounds.
Photo to the right: Phumelele Tsewu, director.
This is a fan page, written by Kees Kaldenbach, an admirer living in Amsterdam. The entire iGugu le Kapa choir and director tavelled to Amsterdam and performed in the Holland Festival, 2015. Listen to an audio track here.
For the choir members of iGugu le Kapa it was their very first flight out of South Africa to the comparatively wealthy countryof The Netherlands,Western Europe. In Amsterdam they received a hotel room, food and pocket money from the Holland Festival management. They were astounded at the cleanliness of Amsterdam and saw "rivers everywhere in town". Saving their cash, they went on foot everywhere. It was a big experience!
In 2015, I was lucky to visit their 2 hour Amsterdam workshop with a singalong of various songs in Afrikaans, English etc. And was impressed by the lively style of Phume Tsewu.
In Mandalay, a Cape Town suburb. Choir practice.
The national anthem of South Africa, performed in Amsterdam by iGugu le Kapa. One of the most moving anthems ever composed, signifying the will to heal the wounds of the past.
A happy choo-choo- train song also sung in Amsterdam in 2015 by iGugu le Kapa.
In February, 2016 I had the privilege to meet the director Phume Tsewu in his home. With my iPhone I recorded a two hour choir practice session.
The songs shown here is Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart in 5 parts... a majestic slow rendition. Here I present 5 different youtube movies in the chronological order of the choir practice :
Part 1. Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Part 2. Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Part 3. Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Part 4. Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Part 5. The longest take after 4 trials. Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Then followed a poetic song in Afrikaans, Op die rante van die wolke wil ek ry, (On the edge of the clouds I want to take a ride) written by Paul Lester and Marlies Wessels.
Finally Halleluiah by Leonard Cohen. The latter, although beautiful, I dare not present here because of copyright issues.
All photos and movies by Kees Kaldenbach, Amsterdam.
Choir practice. The two women in the yellow and pink shirt are sisters. Standing in the door opening to the right is Batwandwa aka Batakes, a man taken up like a son in the Tsewu family.
Choir practice. The man sitting with head in hand is the bass voice, Nkululeko Ndziba.
Choir practice.
The gifted student on the couch to the left, both of her hands on couch, received a laptop to support her future studies and career.
All images are from the choir practice. The choir's regular meeting for practice. February 21, 2016, at the director's home in Mandalay, Cape Town suburb, South Africa.
The choir could do with financial support. Will you send the director an email? Also for concert bookings: mtshana.tsewu@yahoo.com
Phumelele Tsewu, director at the prize stand.
SASCE, Best Conductor prize, 2015
ATKV choir competition, Winner 2015. In Afrikaans: Wenner Korekompetietsie.
This page was launched on 9 March 2016. Update 13 March 2016.
Response, questions? Contact choir director Phumelele Tsewu aka Phume Tsewu for concert bookings mtshana.tsewu@yahoo.com
Phume's job as deputy school principal, in Philippi.
Research and copyright by Kees Kaldenbach. A full presentation is on view at www.xs4all.nl/~kalden/