Kaapse Klopse（Cape Town Minstrel Carnival）

Every New Year, the streets of Cape Town burst with the music, color, and joy of Kaapse Klopse (Cape Town Minstrel Carnival). For more than a week, over 10,000 minstrels in dazzling costumes sing, dance, and parade through the city. This festival, rich in community pride and history, is a multi-sensory South African experience like no other.

Satin jackets and feathered hats shimmer in the sun, children’s laughter and confetti fill the air, banjos and brass bands set the rhythm, and the aroma of grilled meat and spices drifts from food stalls. Kaapse Klopse is a living legacy of freedom, creativity, and unity—anyone can join the dance and feel the spirit of Cape Town.

Grand Parade & Minstrel March

Stadium Competitions & Troupe Performances

Costumes and Decorations

Traditional Food & Drink

The history of Kaapse Klopse (Cape Town Minstrel Carnival) dates back to the early 19th-century Cape Colony. At that time, many enslaved people from Africa, Asia (especially Malaysia and Indonesia), and Europe lived in Cape Town. For them, January 2nd—“Tweede Nuwe Jaar” (Second New Year)—was the only day of the year when they were freed from their masters and allowed to celebrate. On this day, they expressed joy and solidarity through singing, dancing, and parades, celebrating a rare moment of liberation from oppression.

The music, costumes, and dances of the carnival blended African, Malay, and European influences, developing into a unique style. The minstrels performed “moppies,” comic songs rich in satire and humor, sung in Afrikaans, English, and Creole, symbolizing the community’s identity and spirit of resistance.

During apartheid (1948–1994), Kaapse Klopse was temporarily banned and suppressed under racial segregation policies, but it continued as a form of “quiet resistance” to preserve community pride and freedom. After democratization in the 1990s, the carnival returned to public celebration, growing into one of South Africa’s largest festivals—a symbol of unity, reconciliation, historical memory, freedom, and equality for Cape Town’s diverse citizens.

Today, Kaapse Klopse features over 60 troupes (music and dance teams) and more than 13,000 participants parading through the city for over a week, celebrating the New Year with music, dance, and vibrant costumes. The festival plays an important role in community cohesion, youth development, and historical education, and is a “living cultural heritage” that shares Cape Town’s multicultural identity with the world.

I went to see the parade with my children, and before I knew it, we were dancing with strangers. Everyone was smiling, sharing food, singing, and I felt truly happy. The flood of color and sound was overwhelming. A local explained the meaning behind the songs and costumes, and I realized this was more than entertainment—it was a festival of history, hope, and belonging.

• The festival’s origins come from the emancipation celebration “Tweede Nuwe Jaar” (Second New Year).
• Many songs are “moppies”—satirical songs in Afrikaans and English.

Kaapse Klopse is held every January at various locations throughout Cape Town. Dive into the parades, food, music, and dance, and experience the magic of South Africa’s greatest carnival for yourself.