Tribute to Taliep Petersen (1950 – 2006) – Cape Town Misses You!

Portrait by artist Michaelangelo Abrahams


16th December 2014 marks 8 years since the tragic death of Cape Town’s most loved theatre legend, Taliep Petersen. Most of us remember Taliep’s musical presence from his collaborations with David Kramer - their most popular ones being District Six the musical, Poison, Kat & the Kings and Ghoema. If you were born before my time, you may also recall Carnival a la District Six and his 1980s band called ‘Sapphyre’ which Taliep created to showcase interpretations of traditional Cape Malay and Klopse songs. Or if you grew up with M-net in the house (unlike me), you must’ve seen his popular TV sitcom Alie Barber that was aired round about 2001. 
  
The Kramer Petersen Songbook was later created by Kramer after Taliep’s death, as a tribute to him and their 20-year partnership. Songbook showcased a collection of popular songs from the musicals they’ve written together. (Buy your personal copy of Ghoema, District Six the musical or Songbook at the Baxter Theatre Centre!).  

I remember shaking hands with Taliep for the first time one night at the Baxter Theatre in 2004, after watching a performance of Kat & the Kings.  Afterwards, my family and I waited patiently to commend him on a successful production, while he was telling a story to some fans about how he hit someone out of frustration with a “wash-lappie”. He paused mid-way into his story to greet us, proclaiming what a “mashallah!” name I had as I introduced myself.

I’m sure families and fans of Taliep can testify to the silence in the theatre which Cape Town has experienced since his passing. The Kramer and Petersen crowds never failed to fill up their theatre spaces on show nights – a reflection of Taliep’s truth when he says: “You touch the heart and soul of your people, and you have tapped the pulse of a nation.”

RIP Taliep Petersen – Cape Town surely misses you!


On Taliep Petersen: A David Kramer reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeir1TOBxKw

Taliep’s famous Kat & the Kings track ‘Lonely girl’ on Morning Espresso: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxApzEXMAYE

*** Do you have a Taliep Petersen story to share? ‘Cultsha Kennis’ would like to hear from you! Put us in the loop by inboxing us on our Facebook blog page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cultsha-Kennis/383816005109286?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

See excerpts from Kramer/Petersen productions below:











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