Performance: Fractally in Medias Res by A Capetonian Quintet

On 3 July 2026, Framer Framed hosts A Capetonian Quintet’s Fractally in Medias Res — a musical performance reclaiming colonial Dutch music as an act of resistance. In the spirit of Keti Koti, a quintet of vocalists and cultural carriers from Cape Town present a variety of Nederlands Liederen, passed down through centuries of oral tradition, each performance adding another layer to a living counter-archive.

While the Nederlands Liederen (Dutch songs) of the VOC era have largely been erased from the collective memory within the Netherlands, they survive in Cape Town as a vital, evolving counter-archive. Passed down through centuries of oral tradition among the Cape Malay and creole communities, these songs are not static artefacts: they are active, sonic vessels of memory, continuity, and resistance for the descendants of enslaved populations.

Presented in the reflective spirit and aftermath of Keti Koti, a quintet of elite vocalists and young cultural carriers from Cape Town activate this repertoire of preserved melodies. This performance offers an immersive exploration of how marginalised communities creatively navigate, reclaim, and transform colonial linguistic and musical forms. By re-centering these voices, the activation unearths the complex, entangled histories of colonial labor, forced migration, and the ongoing, embodied practices of radical emancipation.

Sign up here.

Location

Framer Framed
Oranje-Vrijstaatkade 71
1093KS, Amsterdam

Info & Credits

Realised in collaboration with DutchCulture, Zuid Afrika Huis. Endorsed by Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association & Cape Malay Choir Board.

Curator/Producer: Wisaal Abrahams
Nederlands Singer & Coach: Rafeeq Domingo
Drummer: Wazier Salie
Musical Director/Soloist: Ameen “Bruno” Hernandez
Bass/Soloist: Abdu-Daiyaan Floris
Kaapse Klopse Coach: Taurik “Tolla” Blignaut

This event is in English. Admission is free, pay what you can. Do you also think art should be free and accessible? Please consider supporting us with a donation when registering or by becoming a Framer Framed Friend!

Framer Framed is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Amsterdam Fund for the Arts; the Municipality of Amsterdam; and VriendenLoterij Fonds.