Lentegeur’s Juvie Boy Entertainers (JBE) were crowned Section Two winners at the fifth and final week of the Hollywoodbets and Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) stadium competitions which took place at Athlone Stadium on Saturday February 3.
Juvie Boys impressed in various categories, winning their fifth consecutive Group Song title, Best Band, Klopse Jol, Afrikaans Moppie Song, Female Sentimental and others.
Putting together a wining team is no joke, says JBE founder, Yusuf Gester, but an all-round team effort helped them to pull off the big win.
More than a choir or klops, JBE is all about community and having the right people and systems in place to ensure success, he said.
“For JBE its firstly about serving the community and having a troupe is just one part of the project which creates other platforms to serve our people. The minstrel activities itself is more about the fun and enjoyment and also to showcase the talent of our performers and staff, said Gester.
“I think the most common challenge for all minstrel troupes is the lack of funding. Putting a troupe on the road to participate for a season is a mammoth task and to support the activation of those tasks, funding is the key factor. Other limitations are suitable venues for rehearsals, transport, intrumentation and feeding of members at rehearsals,” he said.
“It takes a lot of human resources, but appointments of staff is critical. You need lots of time to implement all the plans and projects and of course, you need loads of finances, which is often lacking,” he said.
“We have a very extensive executive committee that is entrusted with various operational tasks that is minstrel related, but they are also very involved in delivering our community social upliftment projects, such as feeding, prayer gatherings, Christmas carols and so on, he said.
“They are also actively involved in handling our logistics of choir and music departments, which runs throughout the year and they are the cornerstone of fundraising events, which creates the platform for management to empower and strengthen the skills of the exco,” Gester said.
Established in 2012, JBE is among the bigger troupes on the minstrel front, with close to 1500 members taking to the street at this year’s “Tweede Nuwe Jaar“ parade in the CBD.
Gester said their numbers were roughly the same at the stadium competition, but the choir or “singpak” is significantly reduced.
“Our singpak this year was only 80 members as we minimised the singpak tally. As young as the singpak members are, they are experienced choristers and they love singing,” he said.
“We basically start rehearsals after Ramadaan and Eid. The choirmaster is the legendary Ameer Williams and he oversees a coaching technical staff, choreographer and flanked by an engineering team and manager.
“In this department we are enriched with experience and ability and our engineering team, Moosa Parker and Yunus Jones are the glue between the technical staff and our very talented singpak.
“The singpak is co-ordinated by the loveable Ayyoob Gester who makes sure that our well-blended singpak members stay focused to the task,” he said.
“I would like to encourage local businesses and corporates to invest in these type of activities and organisations as it’s a huge investment in the social upliftment of our communities,” said Gester said.
“On this note, I must comment the JBE management partners, Nasief Hoosain and Shahied Davids.”
Section 2 results
Grand March Pass
5th: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
4th: MP Young Tycoons
3rd: Playaz
2nd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
1st: Juvie Boys
Juvenile Drum Major
5th: TV Stars
4th: MP Young Tycoons
3rd: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
2nd: Juvie Boys
1st: Playaz
Adult Drum Major
5th: TV Stars
4th: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
3rd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
2nd: Juvie Boys
1st: Playaz
Klopse Jol
5th: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
4th: MP Young Tycoons
3rd: Playaz
2nd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
1st: Juvie Boys
Best Dressed
5th: MP Young Tycoons
4th: Ashwin Willemse Orient
3rd: Playaz
2nd: Juvie Boys
1st: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
Juvenile Sentimental
5th: MP Young Tycoons
4th: Manenberg Superstars
3rd: TV Stars
2nd: Playaz
1st: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
Female Sentimental
5th: Wesbank Entertainers
4th: Ashwin Willemse Orient
3rd: MP Young Tycoons
2nd: TV Stars
1st: Juvie Boys
Male Sentinental:
5th: MP Young Tycoons
4th: Juvie Boys
3rd: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
2nd: Manenberg Superstars
1st: Playaz
Afrikaans Moppie Song
5th: Playaz
4th: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
3rd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
2nd: TV Stars
1st: Juvie Boys
English Combined Chorus
5th: Playaz
4th: MP Young Tycoons
3rd: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
2nd: Juvie Boys
1st: Ashwin Willemse Orient
Juvenile Combined Chorus
5th: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
4th: TV Stars
3rd: D6 Minstrels
2nd: Playaz
1st: Ashwin Willemse Orient
Best Band
5th: TV Stars
4th: Playaz
3rd: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
2nd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
1st: Juvie Boys
Best Group Song
5th: Manenberg Superstars
4th: TV Stars
3rd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
2nd: Playaz
1st: Juvie Boys
Adult Coon Song:
5th: Playaz
4th: TV Stars
3rd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
2nd: Manenberg Superstars
1st: Juvie Boys
Overall position:
5th: TV Stars
4th: Original D6 Hanover Minstrels
3rd: Ashwin Willemse Orient
2nd: Playaz
1st: Juvie Boys
