It’s a double celebration for the Minstrel fraternity as the Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade 2024 event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA).
If last year’s success is anything to go by, The Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade, which will take place next week on Tuesday 2 January, expects to yet again draw crowds of between 60 000 and 100 000 people, with roughly 15 000 to 20 000 minstrels participating.
“Spectators can expect another exciting, fun-filled day of colour and the ghoema beat. This year, the troupes will parade straight down Darling Street (no golden circle) and the public can access the new Hollywoodbets Purple Mile, opposite the City Hall. Four new grandstands will be erected, to host 180 people on each platform. Spectators can gain access to the prime viewing area on a first come first served basis. The HollywoodBets Cape Town Street Parade and the Hollywoodbets and KKKA Annual Kaapse Klopse Competitions at Athlone Stadium constitutes the largest cultural festival in Africa and certainly the largest and oldest in South Africa and are major vehicles for social cohesion and the empowerment of communities on the Cape Flats,” said Muneeb Gambeno, Director of KKKA.
The city centre’s streets between Rose Street in Bo Kaap and Hanover Street in District Six will host performances by minstrel troupes from all over Cape Town, continuing the long-standing custom and heritage of Tweede Nuwe Jaar, which has been observed in the region for more than 115 years.
What makes this year even more special is that it is the 20th anniversary of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association.
“Whilst our organisation is young relative to the century-old Klopse tradition, we believe that we have already contributed to significant improvements in the history of the carnival – something that we are committed to continuing with, for the benefit of the people of the carnival,” said Gambeno.
“Hollywoodbets is once again thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade,” said Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager for Hollywoodbets. “The Tweede Nuwe Jaar event is the big highlight of the Kaapse Klopse Carnival, and following lessons learnt from our first edition in 2023, this coming year’s celebrations will be bigger, better, and more accessible to all. The removal of the Golden Circle and implementation of the Purple Mile on Darling Street is really exciting as there is no entrance fee, three additional stands for seating, and big LED screens to showcase the highlights of the day throughout. We appreciate how much this event means to the communities of the Western Cape, and we look forward to joining in and elevating the festivities on the 2nd of January 2024 in the Cape Town CBD.”
Participating troupes
West London All-Stars
Playaz Inc.
Original District Six Hanover Minstrels
Fabulous Woodstock Starlites
Cape Town Hawkers
Posh Vibrant Youth Development
TV Stars
Mitchells Plain Young Tycoons
Fabulous Seawind Entertainers
Ashwin Willemse Orient Community Development
Mannenberg Superstars
Carnival Boys
Exquisite Golden Gate
Juvie Boy Entertainers
The Last Tomahawks
The Original Wild Apaches
Young Wild Commanches
Philadelphians Sporting Club and Youth Development
Wesbank Youth Entertainers
Las Vegas Entertainers
The basics
The yearly celebration is the city’s longest-running carnival and a vital component of its cultural legacy.
Marching through the city’s streets are thousands of people dressed in brightly coloured satin and sequin uniforms, matching umbrellas and creative face art while jolling to banjos, trumpets and drums to create their distinctive “ghoema” music.
The troupes are arranged such that each performance occurs independently, giving spectators a chance to hear and jol with their favourite troupe. The brass band provides the melody while the percussion provides the heartbeat so that the “voorlopertjies,” or non-instrument players can lead the way with flashy dance routines.
Entertainment
Cape Town-based stand-up comedian Rezah Forbes will kickstart the proceedings for the morning entertainment on the main stage, serving as the MC. Novocaine The Band starts the day’s stage shows at 11:15. Their musical set along with performances by talented, proudly local acts such as UNCLE Kim DUO, Shadley Schroeder, IMO-Vee, Milicent Malazi and more, will keep the vibe going through the day. The stage along with big-screen TVs will broadcast in multiple locations on the Purple Mile and the Grand Parade to ensure no one misses out on the entertainment.
The route
The troupes will commence the procession on Hanover Street in District Six. Teams will be dropped off by buses near Russell Street, and Sir Lowry Road and Hanover Street will be the starting point of the official parade. After the Thuhr prayer time which takes place, the first troupes will kick-off proceedings at 13:15. All 20 troupes will march the entire length of the designated route on Darling Street through the Hollywoodbets Purple Mile into Adderley Street, and then proceed up Wale Street beyond the Company Gardens. After crossing Buitengracht Street, the troupes enter the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood (Schotsche Kloof) and end on Rose Street.
Road Closures
Road closures for the Cape Town Street Parade will be in place from 6 am until midnight in conjunction with stop-and-go systems on Tuesday 2 January.
Entry is free
Unlike the last five years, the HollywoodBets Cape Town Street Parade event is free to the general public this year. The easiest way to see this amazing show is to assemble in the city centre, where the Minstrel troupes will perform their signature sounds as they march towards Rose Street in Bo-Kaap from Hanover Street in District Six. Thousands of people attend the event; some camp overnight to secure a spot with the best view.
Prohibited items
As you may know, glasses are not permitted at a public event like this. Please make sure that any snacks you bring are in non-glass containers, like tins or plastic. Other banned items include weapons, alcohol, and drugs. Vulgar language, violence, political engagements, as well as provocative or illicit actions are also prohibited.
Keep in mind that everyone is there to celebrate our culture and have a good time, so please be polite and mindful of others.
It can be a long day out, so feel welcome to bring blankets, cooler boxes, and foldable chairs to make yourself comfortable.
Remember that it gets extremely hot during the day, but after the sun sets, it can get chilly, so make sure to pack some warmer clothes.
Stadium competitions
The excitement of the Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade will continue in the form of a five-week stadium Hollywoodbets and KKKA Annual Kaapse Klopse Competitions which starts the first Saturday in January. The competition, at Athlone Stadium, will feature 17 Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) troupes through the first week of February.
Troupes will be separated into two groups and compete on separate dates. Among the categories in which the troupes will compete are the grand march pass, junior and senior drum major, best-dressed troupe, and Klopse Jol.
Cape Town Street Parade social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capetownstreetparade
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capetownstreetparade/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CTstreetparade
