The ‘Glamour Boys’, a minstrel group from the Bo-Kaap, at the 1996 Annual Coon Carnival competitions. The Cape minstrel tradition goes back to the freeing of slaves in the Cape. Today the coons are still made up mainly of working-class people. Unlike in the past when they were funded by their families and supporters in the community, today the klopse are mainly reliant on council and corporate sponsorship for their survival. The cost of material for outfits and transport have become major stumbling blocks for teams wishing to compete. The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse), formerly known as the Coon Carnival and officially called Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, is a Cape coloured minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January in Cape Town, South Africa. It is also referred to as Tweede Nuwe jaar (Second New Year). As many as 13,000 minstrels take to the streets garbed in bright colours, either carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical instruments. The minstrels are self-organised into klopse (
Image Number: APN165537

APN165537

Title: The 'Glamour Boys' minstrel group in District Six Description: The ‘Glamour Boys’, a minstrel group from the Bo-Kaap, at the 1996 Annual Coon Carnival competitions. The Cape minstrel tradition goes back to the freeing of slaves in the Cape. Today the coons are still made up mainly of working-class people. Unlike in the past when they were funded by their families and supporters in the community, today the klopse are mainly reliant on council and corporate sponsorship for their survival. The cost of material for outfits and transport have become major stumbling blocks for teams wishing to compete. The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse), formerly known as the Coon Carnival and officially called Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, is a Cape coloured minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January in Cape Town, South Africa. It is also referred to as Tweede Nuwe jaar (Second New Year). As many as 13,000 minstrels take to the streets garbed in bright colours, either carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical instruments. The minstrels are self-organised into klopse ("clubs" in Kaapse Afrikaans, but more accurately translated as troupes in English). The custom has been preserved since the mid-19th century. People consider the festival a rite of renewal that has been shaped by the Cape's history. Sublocation: Green Point Stadium City: Cape Town Province or State: Western Cape Country: South Africa Date Created: 01-01-1996 Creator: Chris Ledochowski Credit Notice: Chris Ledochowski / South Photos / african.pictures Pixel Dimensions X: 2742 Pixel Dimensions Y: 1837 Keywords: Rights usage terms: Restrictions:  This image does NOT have all model and property releases. Additional clearance may be required for non-editorial use and for use in association with socially sensitive subject matter