Lekker, lekker New Year!
New Year's Day in Cape Town is an extremely vibrant and colourful celebration for some folk. Thousands of minstrels take to the streets arrayed in lurid satin and glittery outfits with faces painted and armed with shiny parasols or perhaps the odd banjo. The spectacle is dazzling and the atmosphere is jolly – you might find your feet tapping to the banjo tunes that accompany the traditional Cape Malay folk songs.
The parade also goes by the very un-PC nickname of the 'Coon Carnival' among the 'coloured' community who keep the tradition alive. The pageant has its roots in the 19th Century visits of American cruise ships in Cape Town. The minstrel entertainers on board brought their lively sounds and styles to Cape Town which were eventually incorporated into the New Year festivities of newly freed Malay slaves. The Carnival begins on New Year's Day with extravagant street parades, singing, dancing, costume competitions and marches through the city streets from District Six.
Need to know? Processions take place along the streets of central Cape Town and Greenpoint Stadium. Be warned, sensitive listeners might find their ears assaulted by the odd tone deaf reveller of dubious sobriety. And if you proffer no cash for his raucous performance you may even hear that same party animal retorting with "jou ma se ...."
