Coon Carnival

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The term "coon"

While it has other meanings, it is most prominent in South Africa are its suse (a) as a racial slur for a black person, borrowed from American usage and (b) its specific use for a performer in the Cape Coon Carnival, with its early association with the Christy's Minstrels and other "blackface" performers from America.

See for example definitions provided by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coon and http://www.thefreedictionary.com/coon

Carnival

See also Festival

The idea of the carnivalesque

Origins and history

Carnivals in South Africa

The Coon Carnival in the Cape

Also known as the Cape Coon Carnival or The Cape Coons (In Afrikaans: die Kaapse Klopse or simply Klopse).


Origins of the Coons or Klopse

Coons and Coon troupes

The performance styles

The Coon Festival as event

Student carnivals

Known as Karnaval or more commonly Jool in Afrikaans



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