Cape Minstrels

Photo: Courtesy South African Tourism

The Cape Minstrel Carnival or Kaapse Klopse as it is also known, is Cape Town’s longest-running street party and lasts for the month of January.

New Year celebrations are always huge in Cape Town, but it’s not until January 2 that the party gets started. The event, known as Tweede Nuwe Jaar (second New Year), is when minstrels, in a cacophony of colour , parasols swinging ,dance through the city centre singing traditional songs and playing banjos.

This event was originally known as the Kaapse Klopse and originated in the 1800s when Malay slaves celebrated the one and only day in the year that they had off work.

We have come a long way since then, but this is a tradition not to be missed!