THE KAAPSE KLOPSE HAS A COLOURFUL HISTORY This competition is a big deal to the troupes, who start practising their melodies and repertoires many months in advance. The lengthy, structured contest sees 40-plus minstrel clubs – each identified by a unique colour scheme and some with more than 1 000 members – compete in a wide range of categories from the best-dressed team, best band, combined chorus, male solo, drum major, minstrel song, Champion of Champions and more. YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THE FORMAL COMPETITION What many Capetonians and tourists don’t know is that the open-air celebration is just a sideshow to a major competition that runs every Saturday until mid-February at the Athlone Stadium. This entertaining one-day street parade is only one aspect of the broader carnival. There is also a structure to each troupe, with non-instrument playing members called “voorlopertjies” leading the way with extravagant dance moves while the band follows them, providing the soundtrack. The troupes are spaced out so that each performance happens separately and one sound doesn’t drown out the other. “For spectators, it’s like watching 50 or 60 shows pass you,” says Kevin Momberg, CEO of the Cape Town Minstrels Carnival Association. The parade is made up of several well-rehearsed minstrel troupes, each playing its own song in its own style.

Known in English as the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, the annual New Year’s festival sees thousands of people in glittery uniforms, face paint, hats and parasols march through the city’s roads playing their signature ghoema music on banjos, trumpets and drums. IT’S LIKE 60 DIFFERENT SHOWS PASSING YOU BY The traditional date is 2 January, but this year it will be moved to the 16th of June due to current health restrictions. The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival is moving to 16 JuneĮvery year the streets of Cape Town are flooded with a flurry of colour, song, drumbeats and movement as the Kaapse Klopse explode into them for the Tweede Nuwe Jaar Minstrel Parade.

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