Kaaps is a vibrant language, and the people are no different. Since mid-2022, a group of Kaaps musicians and poets have been meeting regularly with the Psalms that Sing team to orally translate the Psalms. Through this creative process, each Psalm is internalised, translated, transcribed, and then performed. It is this process that inspired the production “Alive in Kaaps”!

After spending time exploring and performing the Psalms in Kaaps, the team had a strong desire to share it with their community. The production was planned to introduce the Kaaps Scriptures and to bring them alive in Kaaps. This was done brilliantly.

“I was blown away by the quality and passion of the team, and even more by the ripple effects on the Kaaps community.”

“We are watching history in the making, and I’m so excited to see what comes next.”

Kaaps Identity

Kaaps is spoken mainly by the Coloured community in the Cape Flats. Kaaps speakers are descendants of the multiple ethnicities that lived in the Cape region under European colonisation, including Malays, Khoi and other African peoples, many of whom were enslaved and oppressed. Until recently, Kaaps has been treated as a dialect of Afrikaans, but it likely predates Afrikaans and has its own unique form that has evolved in tandem with the culture of its speakers in a way that makes it distinct. Now, they are starting to embrace their identity afresh. Events like “Alive in Kaaps” bring validation and encouragement for members of the community to know that they are utterly treasured and wonderfully made; a message with the power to heal centuries of discrimination.

The Production

The first half was full of encouragement and revelations, including a 21^st century Khoe chief sharing his music and vision for embracing cultural heritage and identity, a brass band called ‘Kid’s Off The Street’ from the Kaaps community, an introduction of a Psalm in Kaaps, and interviews with Sebastian Floor (PtS Coordinator), Etienne Pietersen (Kaaps translator of Mark and initiator of Kaaps Bible Translation), and Chevãn van Rooi (completing his PhD on the Kaaps language). This was all directed by Jason Pretorius from the well-known CCFM radio station.

Things continued to develop and astound the audience, with a brilliant production performed by the Kaaps team in the second half. They took us on a journey, using the Psalms. We cried, we laughed, we were challenged. There was drama, comedy, dramatic readings, costumes, dancing, and lots of music! Everyone was captured and fully immersed in what was happening. At several times, people were on their feet, singing and dancing along with the team; they couldn’t resist.

Ps 3 was a turning point in the production, where Edward shared a monologue of struggles. An emotional reading of Psalm 3 in Kaaps followed, declaring the Lord as shield amidst 10,000 enemies, with a song of worship which moved the audience to fervently worship together.

“Yirre, stiek yt! Maak ‘n way vir my… lat U blessings val op U mense.”

(Lord, come and help! Make a way for me… let your blessings fall on your people.)

I was blown away by the quality and passion of the team, and even more by the ripple effects on the Kaaps community. In the past few weeks people have been sharing videos of themselves singing the songs, including them in church services, and posts sharing Kaaps Psalms and talking about Kaaps identity. We are watching history in the making, and I’m so excited to see what comes next.

Reactions

“This evening I watched this production, and I was blown away! I was educated, I was entertained, I was awakened, my spirit was uplifted, and my heart is proud! I am Alive in Kaaps! I respect my language so much more!”	“I have a renewed sense of pride in who I am and who God made me.”	“THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT. Run with endurance!”
	“I was at your show this weekend and I must say it’s the best show I have been to this year. It was sooooo amazing!!”
“This work...it's bigger than all of us. GOD IS AT WORK. I absolutely loved being part of this ground breaking movement, and value the opportunity to be a part of a work that's affecting positive and lasting change among and for our people.”
“WOW what a PRODUCTION. Spirit of excellence… I am super excited for tomorrow.”	“I was very moved, seeing you all so alive in Kaaps, and the psalms so integrated in your lives!”