Cape Town - Come March 12, the streets of Cape Town will be transformed into a hive of colour, costumes and dazzling special effects as the 7th annual Cape Town Carnival hits the city.
The theme for next year’s Carnival is Street Life, as announced by Professor Rachel Jafta at a cocktail party held in the city centre.
The carnival takes place on the Green Point Fan Walk and the organisers have promised the event will be “truly electrifying”.
Creative director Brad Baard said the idea came from the dynamics at play in public spaces: “Towns and cities are built on people and relationships, not bricks and concrete. We all have different styles and cultures, but are connected by the vibrant streets of Cape Town. Street Life aims to make these invisible connections visible.”
Baard added that the seventh edition of the Carnival will be special as people would be able to relate to the theme.
He said they would be bringing the streets alive by showcasing “a day in the life of a street”.
“From the morning with dustbin trucks, to children going to school and then the afternoon when things are more chilled and eventually to nights.”
More than 50 000 people attended last year’s event.
Jafta added that more than 50 communities were involved in the performances. The community groups, performers and designers would collaborate to create their Carnival – a platform where they could “showcase their exceptional talents, express themselves and their cultural identities”.
Actor Cedwyn Joel is among the popular faces that will be a part of next year’s Carnival: “I like the variety of acts that we have here and I was at the Carnival that was close to the World Cup and it was a really big party. There was so much to take in, it was wonderful.”
Cape Argus