South Africa's vibrant minstrel carnival draws thousands in Cape Town: Video
The streets of Cape Town came alive with vibrant music, dance, and dazzling costumes as thousands of colorfully adorned minstrels paraded through the city on January 4, 2025.
The exuberant carnival, a cherished tradition, celebrates the city's unique history and cultural diversity, drawing massive crowds of locals and tourists alike.
The minstrel carnival, often referred to as the "Kaapse Klopse" or "Cape Town Minstrel Festival," has its roots in the city's history of slavery. The parade honours the heritage of Cape Town's mixed-race community, many of whom are descendants of slaves brought to the city from Africa, Southwest Asia, and Indian Ocean territories during Dutch colonial rule in the 1650s.
Participants don flamboyant costumes, face paint, and carry umbrellas as they march through the streets, performing lively songs and dances. The New Year parade, a highlight of the festival, serves as a powerful symbol of resilience and cultural pride for the community.
"It's a celebration of freedom and our unique identity," one participant, adorned in a sparkling purple suit and golden hat, told the AFP.
For Cape Town's residents, the carnival is more than just a spectacle; it's a deeply personal tradition passed down through generations, blending music, art, and storytelling to keep the spirit of the past alive.
The first formal parade was held in 1907, Muneeb Gambeno, director of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association that organises the event, told broadcaster SABC, with slavery abolished in Cape Town in 1834.
