Cape Town -
Amid a crowd of thousands of people, he carried his 3-year-old granddaughter on his shoulders, pointing for her to look out every time a trumpeter blasted on his instrument or dancers broke away to put on a display.
Shahied Bakkus, 56, and his granddaughter, Tanweer Fataar, 3, were out in the CBD on Tuesday to watch as about 30 minstrel troupes marched from Keizersgracht to Darling Street in an annual minstrel carnival warm-up event.
Although not all the troupes were dressed in their carnival attire as they did not want to reveal too much ahead of the parade for the annual minstrel carnival in the new year, a big Cape Town drawcard, they still put on an entertaining spectacle.
Bakkus and Tanweer, from Woodlands, Mitchells Plain, are both members of the Shoprite Pennsylvanians. They watched from behind barricades on Tuesday as their fellow minstrel members entertained the crowd.
“I signed her up to be part of the (minstrels) when she was just a year old. She enjoys it and we have a lot of fun. Now she’s three and she walks and dances by herself,” Bakkus said.
Not all the troupe members were part of the event on Tuesday. “Only some of them are here. If you want to really see how things are done, come to town (for the parade),” he said.
Ridwaan Jardin, leader of the Bonteheuwel Superstars, revealed the troupe celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. It gave the team extra gusto to win this year, he said.
“This is our culture. It is something we do every year to remember our ancestors who were slaves. It is a salute to them and an honour to their legacy,” said Jardin.
- Cape Times