Re-Imagining Carnival: Discussing Carnival in Cape Town
The District Six Museum will host a discussion about its 'Re-imagining Carnival' project, kick starting a provocative discussion about future possibilities for carnival in Cape Town. Participants include: Sheryl Ozinsky (head of Cape Town Tourism), Melvin Matthews (CEO of the Cape Minstrel Carnival Association), and Mark Dodsworth (co-founder of Red Zebra, Omniculture - a key participant in the Re-imagining Carnival project). Valmont Layne, Director of the District Six Museum, will act as chair.
Every year thousands prepare themselves for New Year's celebrations in Cape Town. These thousands including musicians, singers, dancers and tailors are connected to the tradition of the 'Kaapse klopse', which stretches back to the 19th century. The museum has been concerned about questions that arise due to the lack of knowledge surrounding this tradition. Why do the klopse paint their faces? Is there a connection between the city's slave heritage and the carnival? What is the relationship between the Kaapse Carnival, the Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the carnevale in Rio de Janeiro?
The museum has concerned itself with these questions and through its research and development project, Re-imagining Carnival, hopes to unravel the heritage of the carnival. The project has examined amongst others, the role played by the 'blackface' in the tradition of the minstrels, and also the carnival's roots in the traditions of the 'black Atlantic'.
The discussion and short video documenting the creation and performance will take place on Tuesday, February 17 at 5.45pm., at the District Six Museum, 25A Buitenkant Street, Cape Town.
