The history of one of Cape Town’s most loved cultural traditions – the Cape Malay Choirs – is now on exhibition at the Media24 building in Cape Town. A first of its kind, the exhibition marks a new, broader recognition of the over decades old Cape Malay Choir Culture. Speaking to VOC News at the launch, a delegate of the Cape Malay Choir Board, Ahmed Ismail said the new exhibition is a milestone achievement for the choirs and the community which they come from.

“It is the first time in my life that I have seen an exhibition of this magnitude. I applaud Media24 for recognising our efforts and sacrifices by showcasing our history through this exhibition,” Ismail said.

While plans for the exhibition to move to the Artscape Theatre is under way, people of the public will have an opportunity to see the Malay Choir memorabilia depicted through archived footage of the years of performances by various groups. Photographs going back to the inception of the groups in District Six and scale model art pieces of areas in the Mother City which played a role in nurturing one of Cape Town’s icons, the Cape Malay Choir.

“There has always been a doubt about what we are doing. Many people outside of the Cape Malay community are not really aware of what it is we do. This collaboration with Media24 allows the fraternity of the Malay Choir to branch out and share our spirit of Cape Town will people from different backgrounds,” Ismail further explained.

Senior heads of Media24, members of the public and media all danced and sang along to the popular tune of ‘Rosa’ as the Malay Choir entertained while the doors to the exhibition opened.

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Meanwhile, tune into VOC’s Saturday Live for more on the Cape Malay Choir exhibition. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)