Cape Town - There are those who say that the word carnival means “farewell to meat”, a practice which precedes the Christian fasting season of Lent.
Although carnival celebrations around the world wrapped up ahead of Ash Wednesday, Cape Town gets to enjoy the fun and festivity of the season next Saturday (March 14).
This is the fifth edition of the Cape Town Carnival that stretches down the Fan Walk for 1km. It has moved from its original location in Long Street.
This year’s theme is “Elemental”; taking on the elements of earth, water, fire and air as well as the futuristic element of space.
The Weekend Argus visited the Cape Town Carnival float-building workshop in Maitland to find out more about the wonders that will stream down Green Point’s Main Road on carnival day.
Head of float-building Angela MacPherson took us around.
“We start the carnival with earth and move to the future,” she says.
The carnival will open with a welcoming team which features the Emzantsi crew operating giant puppets, mayor Patricia de Lille and last year’s light-filled protea float.
Earth opens the carnival with a bold float in Mother Earth. Her brown hands will “hold” lead dancer Yolanda Mtshawu.
The rest of Earth will feature tractors as an ode to agriculture and a Knysna forest elephant float.
A robotic flower spider, created by James Clayton, will be driven down the parade by quad bikes.
“These floats are only used for an hour. We are emphasising environmental awareness thus we have the recycling of floats. The Protea was also a lot of work,” says MacPherson.
Next up is Water, a section opened by a float dedicated to the the ocean, Ulwandlekazi.
A 10m long snoek puppet operated by eight people wiggles its way past us next. It was created by In Motion studios in Kalk Bay.
Then a float of jelly fish that changes from white to purple. They are made from recycled fabrics donated by textile company ShowTex. The jellyfish will be operated by puppeteers from the Marcus Garvey informal settlement.
Fire is opened by Ilanga, the African sun. It’s a 5m-high mandala of jagged sun rays. In line with the environmental themes, it is powered by solar-powered batteries.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, will be honoured by a float called Sacred Fire.
Then its time to cool down with the Air section. It starts with birds and then moves into the fantasy of an airship and then finally an Acsa (Airports Company of South Africa) airplane float.
The Space section closes off with a look into the beyond. Dancers will open with a space dance holding space molecules.
The grand finale is the Cosmic Ark.
Sponsor Redd’s will put out a section of floats called the Pied Piper, to guide the crowds to the Cape Town Stadium forecourt for the afterparty. That’s where you can listen to the sounds of musicians like Beatenberg and Cassper Nyovest.
FACTFILE
* There are 13 floats and seven puppets.
* The tallest float is the ACSA plane soaring at 10m.
* Ulwandlekazi was redesigned five times.
* Design began in September and construction in January.
* 45 people worked on floats.
* Entrance to the carnival zone starts at 4pm and closes at 6pm. The show starts at 7pm and the afterparty at 9pm.
* See www.capetowncarnival.com or follow @CTCarnival on Twitter.
Weekend Argus