Cape Town’s biggest jol is about to go to the next level.
The launch of the Cape Town Street Parade 2020 (CTSP), at the Castle of Good Hope today, sees some exciting changes to the traditional Tweede Nuwe Jaar klopse showcase.
For starters, the event will take place on Saturday, 4 January 2020, rather than 2 January, as the sunset of that day coincides with Friday Jumu’ah.
But the biggest announcement this year is that MTN South Africa and Samsung will join the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government and Coca Cola as partners on the CTSP, which is being organised by the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) for a third consecutive year.
IN ACTION: Kensington All Stars. Picture: Supplied.
This year, the carnival (choral) competitions held at the stadiums will also fall under the banner of the CTSP.
Between 60 000 and
100 000 people are expected to come see minstrel troupes from all over the Kaap jolling in the streets of the city centre between Hanover Street in District Six and Rose Street in Bo-Kaap.
Muneeb Gambeno, director of the KKKA, says the additional sponsorship will take the CTSP to new heights: “MTN and Samsung’s decision to partner with the KKKA and Cape Town Street Parade have various levels of significance, but mostly it is a show of good corporate citizenship. The partnership has the potential of driving the growth of the carnival to the scale and quality to that of other major Creole carnivals in the world.”
Chris Hopkirk, general manager, Regional Operations MTN Western Cape, says: “For us, our two-year sponsorship of the CTSP gives us the opportunity to connect fans with the much-loved klopse culture in ways they weren’t able to before, whilst also connecting the klopse to increased opportunities to monetise their passion something which South African artists, no matter how talented they are, are in need of.”
GROWTH: Muneeb Gambino
The City of Cape Town, which funded the CTSP and competitions to the tune of over R3.6 million this year, remains committed to supporting the klopse.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says: “Our commitment to this showpiece is evident in the recent decision by the mayoral committee to support a proposal for multi-year funding agreements for the minstrel events. This can only mean bigger and better things for the annual street parade, and we wish the organisers well as they put the finishing touches to what we are sure will once more be a top class event.”
Cape Town's biggest jol is going next level. Video Amanda Halam
Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, says this CTSP promises to be the best one yet.
“I trust all will thoroughly enjoy the biggest cultural event in South Africa with all its new surprises, in a safe and responsible manner,” she said.
In other news, the klopse and their liedjies are going digital.
The MTN partnership will include the creation of a digital album of songs, and the troupes will get an opportunity to submit and record their songs and have them made available on MusicTime!, a music streaming platform, as well as on Shortz and Ayoba.
BUDGET: Klopse celebrations
The revenue generated from the sale of music,
caller tunes and video content is to be re-invested in the communities.
The jol starts at noon on 4 January, with an opening ceremony on the Grand Parade at 1pm and celebrations continue up until 10pm.
The choral competitions will be held at Athlone Stadium on 1, 11, 18 and 25 January and 1, 8 and 15 February.
Troupes must register with the CTSP by 15 December and can contact Dennis Petersen on [email protected] or 072 145 1597.
The Cape Town Street Parade 2020 (CTSP) launches at the Castle of Good Hope at 10:30am today. File image
Tickets for Golden Circle on 4 January and for the competitions are available on Computicket.
And for the first time, fans will be able to buy
discounted season tickets for stadium competitions.