Coon Carnival
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).
Today the use of Coon has fallen away, though Klopse has remained.
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
Links
Return to South African Theatre Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
