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Archiver > SA-HISTORY > 2001-12 > 1009714234


From: "Kammie" <>
Subject: [SoAfricaHistory] 1-Cape Coon Carnival- Slave culture
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2001 14:10:34 +0200


This is a X-posting !!!

> Happy New Year Wishes to all
> South Africa list participants
>
> Useful historical background webpage link to the Cape Town Coon
> Carnival/Colourful Cape Minstrel Festivities [annual rite of renewal]
> on New Year's Eve, from 1-to-2 Jan 2002 :
>
> "The Famous Invincible Darkies" - Cape Town's Coon Carnival : "Aestheic
> Transformation, Collective Representations, and Social Meanings" by
> Denis Constant-MARTIN, a French ethnomusicologist who have undertaken
> Caribbean & Capetonian comparative cross-cultural studies.
>
> http://www.iias.nl/host/ccrs/cp/cp3/cp3-_171__.html
>
>
> > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> Since the 'de-facto' Emancipation of Slaves at the Cape [of Good Hope] in
> South Africa on 1 December 1838, the mulatto community known as the Cape
> Coloureds/Cape Malays, descendants of former slaves, celebrated by
> marching thru the streets of Cape Town in Annual Street Parades, similar
to
> the Rio
> Mardi Grass Carnival in Brasil in order to commemorate the release of
their
> slave
> ancestors up to the present day.
>
> It used to be boycotted by the intellectual elite of the Cape coloured
> community, but with Nelson Mandela giving his blessing to the 300 year
> annual cultural event with his attendance and presence at Green Point
> Track, in Cape Town during 1995, the Cape Coon Carneval received social
> acceptance amongst the new emerging ruling elite of the City of Cape Town.
> This
> resulted in the City Administration recognising this cultural movement as
> an integral part of the Metro's festive season, with major spin-offs for
> regional and national tourism.
>
> Prior to the 'de- jure' Emancipation of Slaves at the Cape on
> 1 December 1834, followed by a 4 year compulsory
> labour apprenticeships to their former slave-masters until
> 1 December 1838, numerous travellers observed and reported as early as
1823
> that
> Cape slaves held marches and used musical instruments similar to
> East African practices in Mocambique and other musical instruments in use
> in the East Indies, i.e. present-day Indonesia !.
>
> Since the release of Cape Slaves, their descendants made contact with
> American Coon minstrel groups in the early 1870's , thereby sharing in the
> universal
> cultural representations of the world wide slave diaspora !
>
> > > ----- Original Message -----
>
> > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> > > Press release by the Cape Town Tourism Office for 1-2 Jan 2002
> > >
> > > CAPE MINSTRELS (KAAPSE KLOPSE)
> > >
> > > The Cape Community Minstrel Board and Die Kaapse Nagkore Raad are
taking
> > to
> > > the streets. And both celebrations are going to be BIG.
> > >
> > > At the stroke of midnight on December 31 the Nagkore (Cape Malay
Choirs)
> > > will start their road march in the old District Six. The route will
> then
> > > take them past the Grand Parade to Adderley Street, up Wale Street and
> on
> > to
> > > Rose Street in the Bo Kaap. Then they'll turn around and come back
down
> > > again, eventually dispersing in Plein Street.
> > >
> > > The march, which will consist of approximately 50 choirs with an
average
> > of
> > > 60 members per choir, is expected to go on for about 6 hours. The
> singing
> > > and musical ability of the Malay Choirs is legendary and, after an
> absence
> > > of
> > > six years, their presence on the streets is awaited with great
> excitement
> > > and
> > > expectation by their thousands of fans.
> > >
> > > Then, on January 2 (Tweede Nuwe Jaar), the Cape Minstrels will embark
on
> > > their road march, which will also start in District Six. The route is
> > > similar to that of the Nagkore except that they will disperse once
they
> > > reach Rose Street. As there are literally hundreds of members in each
> > > Minstrel Troupe (approx. 12,000 in total) it'll take from 11.00am
until
> > > 2.00pm before they've all passed by! It's going to be fun, exciting
> and,
> > > given the tradition of those vibrant satin costumes, very bright and
> > > colourful.
> > >
> > > Cape Of Great Events boss, Pat Lennox, says that this event has the
> > > potential to rival some of the world's most famous and popular 'street
> > > carnivals' including Nottinghill in London and the Rio Carnival in
> Brazil.
> > > 'Carnivals, especially those that are unique to a country or city, are
> > known
> > > to attract thousands of national and international tourists. And both
> the
> > > Kaapse Nagkore and Tweede Nuwe Jaar road marches are certainly unique
to
> > > Cape Town. Add the city's scenic beauty and warm climate, and there's
> no
> > > better place to be in the world than the Mother City around New Year.'
> > >
> > > Billy Domingo Production Manager of esp AFRIKA, the company contracted
> to
> > > stage the marches, said their main responsibility is to provide a safe
> and
> > > secure environment for both the spectators and the performers.
> > > 'Historically the biggest headache has been the spectators. They get
so
> > > excited and involved that they, inadvertently, get in the way of the
> > > marchers, which stems the flow and causes delays. This year, a number
of
> > > roads will be closed and lots of security guards will be in evidence
to
> > > ensure that the troupes are provided with a perfect platform on which
to
> > > perform.'
> > >
> > >
> > > Legend has it that Tweede Nuwe Jaar was the day on which the slaves of
> old
> > > were given the day off and they celebrated by marching through the
> streets
> > > of Cape Town.
> > >
> > >
> > > 'Tweede Nuwe Jaar could become a key event on Cape Town's events
> > calendar.'
> > > said Councillor Kent Morkel. 'It is an event that has deep roots in
the
> > > lives of the people of the Cape, and truly reflects the passion,
humour
> > and
> > > positive energy that makes Capetonians what they are. These marches
> have
> > an
> > > underlying theme of renewal and hope, which is the message that runs
> > through
> > > all the major festivals in the world.
> > >
> > > 'The Kaapse Nagkore and Tweede Nuwe Jaar Road Marches will show the
> world
> > > that Capetonians are not only proud of their collective cultural
> heritage,
> > > but rejoice in it.'
> > >
> > > And if that's not a reason to celebrate with an enormous street party
we
> > > don't know what is!
> > >
> > > MORE INFORMATION : KAAPSE NAGKORE & CAPE MINSTRELS ROAD MARCHES
> > >
> > > MINSTELS - TWEEDE NUWE JAAR
> > >
> > > Oldest active members
> > >
> > > Edward Matthews (Eddie Goldmines!) Tel: (021) 5931888
> > > Ismael Dante (Boeta Maitjie) Tel: (021) 3762101.
> > > Collectively over a hundred years in the game!
> > >
> > >
> > > Oldest Troupe
> > >
> > > The Beach Boys +- 40 years Their leader is Mr Tiffloen - 082 3608974
> > >
> > > Biggest Troupe
> > >
> > > The Pennsylvanians - about a 1000 men strong. Their leader is
Richard
> > > Stemmet - 6911177
> > >
> > > Economics
> > >
> > > Every member of each minstrel troupe pays between R400 [$40-00]and
> > > R600[$60-00] for their costume. Thousands of meters of satin fabric
are
> > > required. Tailors and dressmakers work for months. Informal traders
> > > set up shop along the route. This revenue stays within the community.
> > > More details from Richard Stemmet of the Cape Town Minstrel
> > > Association 082 4200245
> > >
> > > KAAPSE NAGKORE - The Malay Choirs - 31st December
> > > They are made up of approx 50 choirs consisting of +-60 people. They
> > will
> > > march on the evening of the 31st December and it is the first time in
6
> > > years that they are taking to the streets. Their presence is awaited
> with
> > > great expectation. Their contact person is Shafiek April 0839792141.
> > >
> > > Sheryl Ozinsky
> > > Cape Town Tourism
> > > tel 426-4260
> > > cell 083-6283426
> > > Cape Town - no 1 city in the world for value-for-money - Conde Nast
> > >
> > > Useful links :
> > >
> > > Cape Metropolitan Tourism :
> > > www.gocapetown.org
> > >
> > > Cape Town Tourism :
> > > www.cape-town.org
> > >
> > > Western Cape Tourism Board :
> > > www.capetourism.org.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Sheryl Ozinsky
> > > To: Kammie
> > > Cc:
> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 4:37 PM
> > > Subject: Cape Coon Carneval : 2002
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> Recommended reading list on the Cape Town Minstrels or Cape Town Coon
> Carnivels :
> Major recent books/publications :
> Martin, Denis-Constant [1999] : "Coon Carnival : New Year in Cape Town -
> Past & Present", published by David Philip, Cape Town, RSA
> see website link : www.ceri-sciencespo.com/cherlist/martin.htm
>
> Copland, David (1985) : " In Township Tonight ! South Africa's Black City
> Music and Theater", London, Longman, UK.
>
> Erlmann,Veit [1996] : " Nightsong - Performance, Power and Practice In
> South
> Africa", The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA
>
> Academic literature on the subject :
> Howard, Colin [1994] : " The 'No-Persons' - An Investigation into aspects
of
> Secular Popular Music in Cape Town", M Mus degree, Goldsmiths' College,
> University of London, UK.
>
> Layne, Valmont E [ 1992] : " Popular Music and Cape Town Contextualizing
> the
> Social and Economic History of Dance band and Jazz Culture in the Western
> Cape circa 1930-1970", M A Thesis, University of Cape Town.
>
> Jeppie, M. Shamiel [1990] : " Aspects of Popular Culture and Class
> Expression in Inner Cape Town, circa 1939-1959", M A Thesis, University of
> Cape Town.
>
> Stone, Gerald Leslie [1971] : " The Coon Carnival", Unpublished
typescript,
> University of Cape Town, Abe Bailey Institute of Inter-Racial Studies,
Cape
> Town
>
> Stone, Gerald Leslie [1983] : " The social impact of the Carnival",
Seminar
> Papers with recommendations, November 24-26, 1983, St Augstine (Trinidad
and
> Tobago) the University of the West Indies, St Augustine : Institute for
> Social & Economic Research.
>
> Kirby, Percival [1939] "Musical Instruments of the Cape Malays", South
> African Journal of Science, Vol 36, December 1939, pp 477-488.
>
> Winberg, Chris [1992] : "Satire, slavery and the ghoemaliedjies [i.e.drum'
> songs] of the Cape Muslims", New Contrast magazine, Vol 19. No 4 pp78-96.
>
> Winburg, Chris [1992] : " Ghoemaliedjies of the Cape Muslims - Remnants
of
> a
> Slave Culture", unpublished paper, University of Cape Town.
>
> > > ======================================================================
> > > Cheers Kammie,
> > > From : 'Tavern of the seven seas', Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > --
> > > email address : "Mogamat Kamedien" =
> > > My website address is : "Slavery @ the Cape" =
> > > http://batavia.rug.ac.be/slavery/ :
> > > You are most welcome to view my South African Slavery-pages hosted by
> > > B@tavia at the "Centre for Third World Studies" based at the
University
> of
> > > Ghent, in Belgium.
> > >
> >
>
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