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GONews February 2008, No. 24-001
Centenary Celebration

Minstrels, Kaapse Klopse
or Cape Coon Carnival
call Kaapse Klopse contact sheet

Rudolf Rieger
By Rudolf Rieger


The year 2008 is under the banner of Centenary Celebration, one hundred years showing the Minstrels under the judgement of adjudicators with every year's traditional road march from the Old Hanover Street at District Six to Bo Kaap, the Malay quarters. History tells us about the Slave Route, Hanover Street along the Parade than into Long Market Street up to the Malay quarters. Today, however, this changed by marching up Wale instead of Long Market Street, the narrow Long Market Street couldn’t cope with the thousands of marchers and spectators.

An estimate of 60'000 Minstrels are participating annualy in the festivities

Minstrel Organogram
Minstrel structure of 2008:

The Board has 6 seats including the Chairman and CEO.

The Cape Town Minstrels are presented at the Athlone Stadium.

The Kaapse Klopse Karnival are using the Vygekraal Stadium in Athlone for there performence presentation.

The Cape District Association has chosen the William Herbert Sports Ground in Wynberg.

There are 8 teams at the Athlone Stadium, 27 teams at the Vygekraal Stadium and 12 teams at the William Herbert Sports Ground.

With focus on the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Ass. performing at the Vygeskraal Stadium the following schedule applied for 2008:
  1. 1st event on the 1st of January
  2. Semi final, Section A -> 26 January
  3. Semi final, Section B -> 02 February
  4. the final event, Top Ten (champs of champs), 9th of February 2008

The criteria to measure the quality of the groupes, judged by the six Adjudicators, are:
  1. Best Dress
    Represented by a qualified fashion designer


    • Uniformity & Neatness (includes white shirt & bow tie)
    • Discipline in Arena (in line & spacing)
    • Visual Impressions
    • Colour Coordination and Harmony

    Note: Takkies Preferred but white shoes are allowed

  2. Best Band
    • Intonation
    • Balance
    • Variation
    • Ensemble
    • Rhythm
    • Harmony
    • Tone Colour
    • General Impression


  3. Best Board
    Minstrel Board and Carriers
    Board Sample
    Troupe and Theme Identification design. Initially made from wood. Today made of plastic, polystyrene, etc)


    • Originality
    • Durability (construction)
    • Theme and troupe matching
    • Must not be to heavy and easily to be carried

    Note: Name of troupe to be incorporated on board

  4. Grand March Pass
    • Military precision
    • Uniformity/synchronised movements
    • Discipline


  5. Group Singing
    Minimum group members of twenty-five (25)

    • Annotation
    • Synchronisation
    • Presentation


  6. Exhibition March Pass
    Themed exhibition - dance sequence - ten minutes presentation

    • Originality
    • Song/Pattern
    • Gimmicks
    • Movement
    • General Impression

Note: Certain conditions apply within above criteria.

General Auditing
The auditing section signs responsible for the following:

  • Score sheets
  • Tallying of scores
  • Completion check on documents
  • Insures that all teams have completed their set of duties
  • Compilation of admin papers
  • Compilation of reports



Andre Jacobs at Vygekraal in Athlone Andre Jacobs Operations Manager Kaapse Klopse at:

Source: News February 2008 Kaapse Klopse Gallery TopPage Top

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