In just less than a month’s time one of the Mother City’s biggest events will return to the Green Point Fan Walk and organisers are hard at work to ensure the 15th edition of the Cape Town Carnival blows patrons away.
All the fun and entertainment will kick off on Saturday 15 March with over 1 500 performers set to take to the streets.
On Tuesday 11 February People’s Post got a glimpse into the work being done in preparation for the carnival at the organisers’ offices in Maitland.
Jay Douwes, Chief Executive Officer of the carnival, said the organisation had been preparing since last year.
“Preparation for the carnival is year-round thing. But the heaviest preparation takes place from January to March, where we fill the workshop with artists and artisans.”
She said this year’s WowZA theme celebrated the country’s richness and diversity.
“We look at themes that are contemporary in South Africa and then get all the different community leaders, artists and artisans to work around the theme. We start to work on the choreography and the designs for the floats a year in advance.”
New faces parading this year include the DHL Stormers team and performances by Brazilian star and Rio’s Queen of the Drums, Erika Januza, and the Mother City’s iconic The Drag Cartel, among others.
Douwes said: “It is a day of celebrating being South African and Capetonian. It is a day when we can all be together and be happy. It’s a safe space and family space. The art and dancing are amazing.”
Lucky Mcoteli, a fabricator, has been a part of the carnival team for 12 years.
He explained he still gets excited seeing his work come to life on carnival day.
“It’s fun and exciting. You must bring your all. One item could take up to a week or more to complete. But to me seeing the headpiece or garment on someone on event day makes it all worth it.”
Camryn Brown, a fabricator’s assistant, said she was excited to be part of the carnival for a second year in a row.
“It’s exciting to learn different things. What I love most is the adrenaline on event day.”
Chad Abrahams, head of the costume department, said he and his team were wrapping up costumes.
“It’s been an exciting and enjoyable ride trying to lock all the designs down and source the fabric to dress more than 1 400 performers. We are trying to celebrate the ‘wowness’ of Cape Town. People can look forward to ‘wow’ costumes. We are going out of our way to make sure this 15th anniversary is celebrated through our costumes.”
