On Saturday, the streets of Cape Town were transformed into a vibrant spectacle as thousands of minstrels paraded through the city in a century-old carnival that celebrates the region’s rich and complex history. The annual event, which has grown to become the largest of its kind on the African continent, draws thousands of spectators to witness the fusion of music, culture, and history.
Participants, dressed in glittering costumes complete with extravagant hats, parasols, and face paint, marched and danced through the city’s historic center. Accompanied by the sounds of trumpets, trombones, and tambourines, the marchers showcased the colorful traditions passed down through generations of Cape Town’s mixed-race community. This community, descendants of slaves brought from Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian Ocean islands, marks the event as a reminder of their ancestors’ struggle and resilience.
The carnival, known as the “second New Year” celebration, takes place annually on January 2, a tradition that dates back to the time of Dutch colonization in the 1650s. During this period, slaves were granted permission to mark the new year in their own way, a rare form of personal freedom that evolved into the lively festival seen today.
This year, 18 troupes of around 20,000 performers, ranging from children to adults, participated in the procession. Organizers said the parade has grown to symbolize not only cultural celebration but also the abolition of slavery in Cape Town in 1834.
Muneeb Gambeno, director of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association, shared that the event’s significance rivals that of London’s Notting Hill Carnival. “This is the largest such parade on the African continent, and it has become a major celebration of our shared history,” he said.
The Grand Parade, where the festivities were held, is a historic site that has also witnessed pivotal moments in South Africa’s journey to freedom. It was here that Nelson Mandela, after spending 27 years in prison, delivered his first address to the nation as a free man in 1990.
As Cape Town’s streets pulse with energy and tradition, the carnival continues to offer a space for reflection on the past and celebration of the cultural and social strides made by the city’s communities.