Cape Town Minstrel Carnival 2010

The Mardi Gras of Cape Town

Cape Town’s ‘Kaapse Klopse’ – not to be compared with the likes of the Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the carnival in Rio de Janeiro - brings the City of Cape Town alive to celebrate new year in a raucous carnival the likes of which are not seen elsewhere in the world.

The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, as it’s officially known, takes place every year at new year when thousands of musicians, singers, dancers and tailors connected to them, gear themselves for the traditional ‘Kaapse klopse’ or ‘Coon carnival’.

The origin of the carnival stretches back to the 19th century and has its origins in the time of slavery in Cape Town, when the original citizens of District Six were allowed their one day off on January 1st.

Over ten thousand “white-faced”, costumed, banjo-picking musicians and dancers will parade and march through the streets, followed by a series of dance, singing and costume competitions at Green Point Stadium.

With band names like ‘dixies’, ‘the district six band’, and songs like ‘take me to Mannenberg’, this is a celebration of life and new year, and the more garish the costume and the more the banjo tunes can make your feet tap, the better.

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