Celebrating the influence of Minstrels on Cape Arts

As we celebrate Heritage Month, one of the best parts of the Kaap se cultural fabric is the Cape Minstrels. 

The Cape Town Minstrels, colloquially known as The Kaapse Klopse, is a tradition stemming from the 1800s.

The celebrations, known as Tweede Nuwe Jaar (second new year) on January 2, was a day off given to slaves to celebrate however they felt fit. 

During this alternative New Year celebration, the slaves would dress up as minstrels and dance rhythmically to the sounds of banjos, guitars, ghoema drums, whistles, trombones and tubas.

Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a celebration of a community's survival and illustrates the continuity between its past, present and future.

While slavery was officially abolished in the Cape on 1 December 1834, the Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations remained a much-anticipated celebration. 

It is estimated that the first carnival troupe was organised in 1887 after seeing a visiting minstrel troupe from the USA performed in Cape Town and Capetonians remain true to this tradition.

It is now known as the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, a colourful parade that celebrates our rich history and culture. Vibrant colours, singing and dancing, and uniting residents are what make the annual event a must-see for all those in Cape Town. 

Klops troupes have also been a hotbed for the performance arts talent hidden in Cape Town and most artists, musicians, designers, songwriters, and dancers get the chance to show their true talents to the public.

One such person is Diego April, 30, from Atlantis, who basically grew up singing in the Cape Minstrels. 

April, a professional performer and sought-after MC, credits the Klopse platform for given him the platform for the person he has became. 

He said: “My journey started at the age of nine, and I ended up performing and singing in the Klopse for 14 years. It was the most memorable and amazing time of my life. It definitely instilled so much."

April started as a juvenile sentimental performer; later, this led him to the adult sentimental, the moppie, and ended up singing the Coon song. 

Sharing his experience on stage, he said: “At the age of 22, I stopped singing for the Minstrels I ended up becoming a full-time performer and MC. What I truly appreciated about the Minstrels was getting on stage, having the most nerves but as you stand there to sing, having thousands of people cheering for you is something else.

“Being part of the Kaapse Klopse instilled so much heritage in me and contributed to so many elements of where I am today.

"I can really just be thankful for the character building and the sense of belonging in that society it brought to my life at such a young age. I don’t think I would have become the individual I am today without the minstrel."

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Cape Argus