TWEEDE NUWE DJAAR !
The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse) is a minstrel festival that takes
place annually on 2 January, in Cape Town, South Africa. As many as
13,000 minstrels take to the streets garbed in bright colours, either
carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical instruments.
The minstrels are grouped into klopse ("clubs" in Cape Dutch, but more
accurately translated as troupes in English). Participants are typically
from Afrikaans-speaking working class "coloured" families who have
preserved the custom since the mid-19th century.
Although it is
called the Coon Carnival by Capetonians, local authorities have renamed
the festival the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival as foreign tourists find
the term "coon" derogatory.
History
One story goes that the carnival was inspired by a group of
African-American minstrels who docked in Cape Town in the late 1800s and
entertained the sailors with their spontaneous musical performances.
The popular song "Daar kom die Alibama" (There comes the Alabama) refers
to the ship that is believed to have brought them.
Another
story goes that the travelling minstrels were actually white and painted
their faces black – hence the painted faces seen today.
The
majority of the troupes (169) are represented by the Kaapse Klopse
Karnaval Association which is one of the break away Associations from
the Kaapse Karnaval ("Cape Carnival") Association. In addition,the other
break away organisation,the Mitchell's Plain Youth Development Minstrel
Board represent a minority of troupes.
The carnival today
The festival begins on New Year's Day and continues into January.
Festivities include street parades with singing and dancing, costume
competitions and marches through the streets. While many troupes now are
supported by corporate sponsors, many refuse and remain sticklers for
tradition. The 2005 carnival was nearly cancelled due to an alleged lack
of funding, while the 2006 carnival was officially called off for the
same reason.
However, the troupe organisations subsequently decided
to go ahead with the parade despite continued unhappiness over funding,
and the festivities were opened by Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool
on 2 January 2006.
