THE FAMOUS CAPE MINSTRELS. and other Cape Town, South Africa Local Custom Tips

As the southeast breeze kicks up outside Cape Town's Greenpoint Stadium, the sound of strumming banjos and banging drums reaches a crescendo, and thousands of merry minstrels hold onto their multicolored hats. It's the final day of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, known more colloquially among "coloured" or mixed-race Capetonians as the "Carnival," and the excitement generated by weeks of parades and months of preparation is building to a climax. Dressed in a dazzling array of shining colors, the " kaapse klopse"--mostly men but also some women and children--burst spontaneously into song and dance. They croon in the local Afrikaans dialect of "Kaapse taal" (literally, "Cape language"), jump into little Chaplinesque jigs, and pump their parasols to and fro.

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The South African Freedom Day (April 27) is now firmly associated with the Freedom to Sing Day. It`s the day of Singathon organized by the Cape Town Opera (CTO) at the Waterfront amphitheatre in which singers from all walks have the chance to raise their voices in song and to raise money for opera.

Started in 1999 as an experiment, the Singathon has become an annual tradition providing a load of fun for professional and amateur soloists, choral groups, children`s choirs who donate their voices for the day. CTO`s own choral groups and Sanlam Studio singers are also there to ensure the singing never stops. If you are in Cape Town on this day, take a break from your morning meanders to experience this joyous event for yourself. I'm usually not an Opera fan, but these songs and performances were truly heart-moving. I couldn't stop listen to it!

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Website: www.CapeTownOpera.co.za