2009-11-09 18:22:18 - It was August 20, 1982 when the Christy’s Minstrels premiered in Cape Town for the first time. Later in June 19, 1890 Orpheus Myron McAdoo’s Virginia Jubliee Singers from Hampton arrived in Cape Town as the first black minstrels to tour South Africa

The reception held was overwhelming and enchanting. The air was filled with joy and pleasing smiles, even some locals were recorded saying in amazement, “they were black”. The event gave birth to a yearly memorization of this legendry and historic event in the form of a festival called “The Kaapse Klopse”. The word “Klopse” owes its origin to “clubs” in

Cape Dutch or more precisely in its English Version as “troupes” and sketches that the minstrels are grouped into Klopse.

Since than, The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse) emerged as a minstrel festival that takes place every year in the heart of South Africa, Cape Town on January 2. The richness and spirit of Africa is evidently visible in the Klopse Festival, when as estimated 13,000 minstrels, many in black face, take to the streets garbed in shockingly bright colors carrying wither an umbrella or playing an array of musical instruments. The majority of participants in this gaily colorful happening include a good number of Afrikaans-speaking families, mostly middle class. These “colored” successfully have preserved the custom since the mid 19th century and provide a great source of spiritual enlightening for the natives as well as people form round the world till now.

The biggest inspiration or more appropriately, the source of the parade and the festival is the dark times and horrors of slavery. This electrifying festival has been given many shapes, extension and names with the passage of time. Although it is also called the “Coon Carnival” by Capetonians, local authorities have renamed the festival the “Cape Town Minstrel Carnival”. Today, the festival begins on New Year's Day and continues into January. Traditionally, it is supposed to be a site for grievances against white supremacy that lasted for a long time. Several festivities became a part of the festival including street parades with singing and dancing, costume competitions and marches through the streets of Cape Town. 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 organizations 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. Realtors seeking to reap the economic rewards of a rapidly gentrifying downtown in wake of the 2010 World Cup are painting the Coons as disruptive and attempted to force the festivities to end at 9 p.m. In January 2009, police on horseback took to the route walking against the course of the parade, threatening marchers and demanding that the music stop. It is a dilemma that a festival so deep routed and unique in its own way is coming to its end. There are many nations that still celebrate festivals where the most painful, piercing, crucifications or simple burning of statues is done in memory of slavery, pain or freedom fight. What we should consider is that every nation has and should have a right to express their history in their own way.

To be a part of this festival and many more happening events of Cape Town, Cheap Flights to Cape Town or accommodations, please visit : www.travelhouseuk.co.uk/flights/africa/cape_town.htm