Every January, an age-old slave tradition is re-enacted on Cape Town shores. When walking along the Mother City's streets on the 2nd of January, do not be surprised if you encounter an army of jovial Capetonians - decked out in brightly-coloured silk suits, hats and white face paint - wielding colourful parasols while singing, plucking on banjos and playing an array of other instruments.

The ‘Kaapse Klopse', ‘Cape Coon Carnival' or ‘Cape Minstrel Festival' has its roots in 19th century slave culture (when slaves were traditionally given a day off to celebrate the New Year). The festival starts on ‘Tweede Nuwejaarsdag' (Second New Year's Day) on the 2nd of January with a street parade, and continues into the month of January with flamboyant parades; costume- and choir competitions; singing; dancing and general merrymaking.

The buoyant minstrels are divided up into different teams (or ‘klopse') and these different teams will battle it out against each other at the Cape Minstrel Festival finals, taking place from the 20th of January 2007.

Teams with names such as ‘Lentegeur Crooners', ‘Young Tycoons', ‘Beverley Hills' and ‘Heideveld Entertainers', from all the different suburbs and townships of Cape Town will partake in the finals - that will wind through the streets of Cape Town before finishing at Green Point Stadium.

The dates for the finals are as follows:
20th January 2007
First Cape Minstrel Festival Final at Green Point Stadium

27th January 2007
Second Cape Minstrel Festival Final at Green Point Stadium

3rd February 2007
Third Cape Minstrel Festival Final at Athlone Soccer Stadium

10th February 2007
Cape Minstrel Festival Champ of Champs

Contact the Cape Town Tourism Office closer to the actual date for more information on the various parade routes and starting times.