kids encyclopedia robot

Kaapse Klopse facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Cape Minstrel at Cape Town Minstrel Carnival (2017)
Cape Minstrel during Minstrel Carnival 2017

The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse) is a minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January and it is also referred to as Tweede Nuwe jaar (Second New Year), in Cape Town, South Africa. 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). Participants are typically from Afrikaans-speaking working class Cape coloured families who have preserved the custom since the mid-19th century.

People consider the festival a rite of renewal that has been shaped by the Cape's history. The events that are associated with Klopse in the festive season include competitions for the Christmas Choirs, Cape Malay Choirs and Cape minstrel choirs.

Images for kids

  • Cape Town procesion on the anniverary of slave emancipation

    Cape Town procession on the anniversary of slave emancipation

  • KaapseKlopse2011

    Troupe on Darling Street during the January 2011 festival

  • Kaapse Klopse marching through Cape Town (2017)

    Troupe of minstrels marching through Cape Town (2017)

  • Cape-Town-Coon

    Minstrel in classic minstrel style struts his stuff at the Green Point Stadium in 2001

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Kaapse Klopse Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.