A "Coon" in classic minstrel style struts his stuff at the Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa - 2001

The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse) is a minstrel festival that takes place annually in Cape Town, South Africa. Up to 13,000 minstrels in whiteface take to the streets garbed in shockingly 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. Detail from cover of The Celebrated Negro Melodies, as Sung by the Virginia Minstrels, 1843 The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the American Civil War, African Americans in blackface. ... A festival is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some unique aspect of that community. ... City motto: Spes Bona (Latin: Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Province Western Cape Mayor Helen Zille Area  - % water 2,499 km² N/A Population  - Total (2004)  - Density Not ranked 2,893,251 1,158/km² Established 1652 Time zone SAST (UTC+2... This reproduction of a 1900 minstrel show poster, originally published by the Strobridge Litho Co. ... The term Cape Dutch was used to describe the Dutch, French, German, and other European descended inhabitants of the Western Cape who from the 17th century into the 19th century who remained loyal subjects of European (first Dutch then later British) powers while their pastoralist trekking cousins: the Trekboers were... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Look up Wiktionary:Swadesh lists for Afrikaans and Dutch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Cape Coloureds are modern-day descendants of slaves imported into South Africa by Dutch settlers. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 (there is some debate about this).

History

Minstrels from the United States first visited the Cape in 1848. This was ten years after the then-British colony had abolished slavery (but years before emancipation in the US). The American minstrels were white, but they blackened their faces with burnt cork. The inverse of this behavior became popular with the local former slave population who, being dark skinned, whitened their faces instead and wrote songs to mock their former masters. Many of the lyrics make humorous allusions to local figures. // Main article: Abolitionism Slavery has existed, in one form or another, through the whole of recorded human history — as have, in various periods, movements to free large or distinct groups of slaves. ... Look up emancipation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A cork stopper for a wine bottle Champagne corks Varnished cork tiles can be used for flooring, as a substitute for linoleum or tiles. ...

Troupe Organisation

The majority of the troupes (169) are represented by the Kaapse Karnaval ("Cape Carnival") Association. In addition, two breakaway organisations (the Kaapse Klopse Karnaval Association and the Mitchell's Plain Youth Development Minstrel Board) represent a minority of troupes.

The Carnival Today

A "moffie" with the Lentegeur Entertainers poses at Green Point Stadium - 2001

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. Since 2002 the carnival has been sponsored by local government and business - not without accompanying controversy. The 2005 carnival was nearly cancelled due to an alleged lack of funding, while the 2006 carnival was officially called off [1] [2] 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 [3]. This article is about January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. ... United States Marines on parade. ... Harry Belafonte singing, photograph by C. van Vechten Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with speech. ... A contemporary dancer rehearsing in a dance studio Dance generally refers to human movement either used as a form of expression or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Capital Cape Town Largest city Cape Town Premier Ebrahim Rasool Area - Total Ranked 4th 129,370 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 5th 4,524,335 35/km² Elevation Highest point: Seweweekspoort Peak at 2325 meters (7628 feet) Lowest point: sea level Languages Afrikaans (55. ... Ebrahim Rasool is the Premier of the Western Cape Province in South Africa. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• Cape Town Minstrel Festival 2007
• Tweede Nuwe Jaar 2001 A foreign scholar joins the Lentegeur Entertainers.
• Yankee Minstrel First white American in the Carnival