Difference between revisions of "Cape Minstrel Carnival"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m
 
(24 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The ''[[Cape Minstrel Carnival]]'' is the current name of the oldest carnival in South Africa, taking place annually in Cape Town on the 2nd of January (referred to as '''[[Tweede Nuwejaar]]''' i.e. "[[Second New Year]]").  
+
The ''[[Cape Minstrel Carnival]]'' is the current name of the longest existing [[carnival]] in South Africa, taking place annually in Cape Town on the 2nd of January (both the date and the carnival itself are often referred to in [[Afrikaans]] as '''[[Tweede Nuwejaar]]''' i.e. "[[Second New Year]]" ).  
  
''For information on the concept of carnival in South Africa and the various carnivals in the country, see the general entry on '''[[Carnival]]'''''
+
'''''Though both are called the [[Cape Carnival]] on occasion, the [[Cape Minstrel Carnival]] is not to be confused with the much more recent [[Cape Town Carnival]] (2010-), which, while also employing the usual carnival elements, takes place at a different time of the year, was inspired by a recent event, and is basically a public relations exercise with a totally different origin and set of aims, convenes a broader based participating group and eyes another target audience'''''.
 +
 
 +
''For information on [[minstrelsy]] in South Africa, see the entry on '''[[Minstrels]]''' and for more on the concept of [[carnival]] and the [[carnivalesque]] in South Africa and the various carnivals in the country, see the general entry on '''[[Carnival]]'''''
  
 
=THIS ENTRY IS BEING WRITTEN AND EDITED AT PRESENT=
 
=THIS ENTRY IS BEING WRITTEN AND EDITED AT PRESENT=
  
Also called the ''[[Cape Carnival]]'' on occasion.
+
==On the name==
  
Originally the event was referred to as the ''[[Coon Carnival]]'', but also known as the ''[[Cape Coon Carnival]]'' or ''[[The Cape Coons]]'' (In [[Afrikaans]]: die ''[[Kaapse Klopse]]'' or simply Die ''[[Klopse]]'')  Also known as the ''[[Cape Coon Carnival]]'' or ''The [[Cape Coons]]'' (In [[Afrikaans]]: die ''[[Kaapse Klopse]]'').
+
The event was originally referred to as the ''[[Coon Carnival]]'' in English, but also known as the ''[[Cape Coon Carnival]]'' or ''[[The Cape Coons]]'' (In [[Afrikaans]]: die ''[[Kaapse Klopse]]'' or simply Die ''[[Klopse]]'').
  
 
Performers in the carnival were long referred to as [[Coons]] in English and [[Klopse]] in [[Afrikaans]].
 
Performers in the carnival were long referred to as [[Coons]] in English and [[Klopse]] in [[Afrikaans]].
  
Today the use of the denigrating term [[Coon]] has fallen away, though [[Klopse]], which does not carry the baggage of the English term,  has remained in use.  
+
Today the use of the denigrating term [[Coon]] has fallen away, though [[Klopse]], which does not carry the baggage of the English term,  has remained in use.
 +
 
 +
There is a strong affiliation with the notion and elements of ''[[Mardi Gras]]'' in the Cape Town Coon Carnival.
  
 
== The origins ==
 
== The origins ==
 
 
Originally referred to as the [[Coon Carnival]], but 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 ==
 
== Origins of the Coons or Klopse ==
Line 27: Line 25:
 
== Coons and Coon troupes ==
 
== Coons and Coon troupes ==
  
 
+
[[Coon troupes]] (Afrikaans [[Klopse-troepe]], [[Klopse troepe]] or simply [[Troepe]]) ,
  
 
==The performance styles ==
 
==The performance styles ==
Line 42: Line 40:
 
=The term "coon"=
 
=The term "coon"=
  
The term derives from [[raccoon]], it was used in America to refer to performers in [[black-face]] entertainments, hence also any black man.  
+
The term apparently derives from the word [[raccoon]] and was used in America to refer to performers in [[black-face]] entertainments, hence also a denigrating term for any black man.  
  
A more recent derivative of the term in the USA has been the term "coonery"[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=coonery], which refers to matters such as the antics and behavior displayed by certain individuals (usually African Americans) which may embarrass the rest of the Black community or reinforce and perpetuate commonly held racial stereotypes about their own community.  
+
A more recent derivative of the term in the USA has been the term "coonery"[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=coonery], which refers to matters such as the antics and behaviour displayed by certain individuals (usually African Americans) which may embarrass the rest of the Black community or reinforce and perpetuate commonly held racial stereotypes about their own community.  
  
While it has other meanings, such as a racial slur for a black person as in the American usage, the term [[coon]] is most prominent in South Africa with reference to a performer in the Cape Town '''[[Coon Carnival]]''', with its early association with the [[Christy's Minstrels]] and other "[[blackface]]" performers from America who visited the country.
+
While it has other meanings, such as a racial slur for a black person as in the American usage, the term [[coon]] is most prominent in South Africa with reference to a performer in the Cape Town '''[[Coon Carnival]]''', with its early association with the [[Christy's Minstrels]] and other "[[blackface]]" performers from America who visited the country and popularized the minstrel tradition in the country.  
  
See for example definitions provided by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coon and http://www.thefreedictionary.com/coon
+
See for example definitions provided by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coon and http://www.thefreedictionary.com/coon
  
 
= Carnival =
 
= Carnival =
Line 60: Line 58:
  
 
== Origins and history ==
 
== Origins and history ==
 
 
 
 
= Carnivals in South Africa =
 
  
  
Line 93: Line 86:
 
=== The Coon Festival as event ===
 
=== The Coon Festival as event ===
  
== Student carnivals ==
+
==The influence of the Coon Carnival==
 +
 
 +
==The coon carnival as a theme in literary and dramatic works==
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=Sources and links=
 +
 
 +
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaapse_Klopse
  
Known as '''Karnaval''' or more commonly '''Jool''' in Afrikaans
 
  
= Links =
+
https://www.capetownmagazine.com/kaapse-klopse
  
  

Latest revision as of 09:38, 9 May 2022

The Cape Minstrel Carnival is the current name of the longest existing carnival in South Africa, taking place annually in Cape Town on the 2nd of January (both the date and the carnival itself are often referred to in Afrikaans as Tweede Nuwejaar i.e. "Second New Year" ).

Though both are called the Cape Carnival on occasion, the Cape Minstrel Carnival is not to be confused with the much more recent Cape Town Carnival (2010-), which, while also employing the usual carnival elements, takes place at a different time of the year, was inspired by a recent event, and is basically a public relations exercise with a totally different origin and set of aims, convenes a broader based participating group and eyes another target audience.

For information on minstrelsy in South Africa, see the entry on Minstrels and for more on the concept of carnival and the carnivalesque in South Africa and the various carnivals in the country, see the general entry on Carnival

THIS ENTRY IS BEING WRITTEN AND EDITED AT PRESENT

On the name

The event was originally referred to as the Coon Carnival in English, but also known as the Cape Coon Carnival or The Cape Coons (In Afrikaans: die Kaapse Klopse or simply Die Klopse).

Performers in the carnival were long referred to as Coons in English and Klopse in Afrikaans.

Today the use of the denigrating term Coon has fallen away, though Klopse, which does not carry the baggage of the English term, has remained in use.

There is a strong affiliation with the notion and elements of Mardi Gras in the Cape Town Coon Carnival.

The origins

Origins of the Coons or Klopse

Coons and Coon troupes

Coon troupes (Afrikaans Klopse-troepe, Klopse troepe or simply Troepe) ,

The performance styles

The Coon Festival as event

Sources

http://www.findtripinfo.com/south-africa/cape-town/festivals-cape-town.html#capeminstrels

The term "coon"

The term apparently derives from the word raccoon and was used in America to refer to performers in black-face entertainments, hence also a denigrating term for any black man.

A more recent derivative of the term in the USA has been the term "coonery"[1], which refers to matters such as the antics and behaviour displayed by certain individuals (usually African Americans) which may embarrass the rest of the Black community or reinforce and perpetuate commonly held racial stereotypes about their own community.

While it has other meanings, such as a racial slur for a black person as in the American usage, the term coon is most prominent in South Africa with reference to a performer in the Cape Town Coon Carnival, with its early association with the Christy's Minstrels and other "blackface" performers from America who visited the country and popularized the minstrel tradition in the country.

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

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 in the name of the carnival, though Klopse has remained.


Origins of the Coons or Klopse

Coons and Coon troupes

The performance styles

The Coon Festival as event

The influence of the Coon Carnival

The coon carnival as a theme in literary and dramatic works

Sources and links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaapse_Klopse


https://www.capetownmagazine.com/kaapse-klopse




Return to South African Theatre Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page