CAPE MALAY CHOIR BOARD

Short history extracts of the Cape Malay Choir Board traditional singing

The Malay song writers almost 200 years ago laid the foundation for the tradition that lives today.
Our ancestors, some of them political prisoners, slaves, artisans were brought from Indonesia, Malaysian Archpelago to the Cape by the Dutch colonist.

Although physically and culturally isolated from their country of origin, they sang songs conceived in bondage.Gradually they sang some of the settlers songs of love and life in Europe listening to the stories from the passing sailors of the drama on the high seas. No wonder in 1707 a cape resident by the name of Biron ran into trouble for singing doubtful ditties - songs half Malay and half Dutch.

Quite a number of songs were written from historical happenings, example:
In July, 1863Governor Woodhouse of the Cape was informed that the Alibama was in Saldanha Bay, in hot pursuit of the enemy vessel, The Sea Bride. The Sea Bride was forced into table Bay, curious onlookers who lined the shores of Table Bay, Greenpoint, Camps Bay, never saw a steamer and was overjoyed when the Alibama defeated the enemy vessel, The Sea Bride, which was forced into Table Bay and the victory tale became a folk song.

Another example is the famous “Rosa” a traditional love song who does not know the song – sang at almost any occasion. It is a story about a young couple who want to get married in order to prevent idle talk.
Then there is the last days of Napoleon Bonaparte on Saint Helena island. The name of the song is Frankenden Stroome and Die Waterloo.

The oldest song is Daar Warren twee Konings Kindering almost a hundred years old - which is also a love song.There are songs with the text from Holland, example, Die Val Van Holland, O God Verlaat Myn Niederland Niet, Skipperjies Maag, Dit Straatjie Van Amsterdam – Piet Hein:- One of hollands heroes who barned undying fame by leading his men to victory against the Silver Fleet of Spain. The exploits of Pete Hein are praised in this patriotic song.Al Is Ons Prinsie Nog So Klein Na Batavia – there are over 200 traditional songs.

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