Excitement was in the air when the Pennsilvania (PSV) Minstrel club from Hanover Park took to the streets on Sunday 9 October.
The club consists of over 2 000 members of all age groups and usually the young ones steal the show.
“The road march is an annual thing and takes place every season. The idea is to promote the new attire and colours that the team will be wearing. The colour theme changes every year and this year the theme is lime green, royal blue and white,” says Faeeda Davids, spokesperson for the club.
“Our minstrel team was established in 1932 by the late parents of Richard Stemmet, who has now taken over the reigns, with the late Vincent “Bunny” Benjamin. During 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, PSV Minstrel Club was the only minstrel team that was up and running.
“We were still doing our road marches while promoting awareness during those trying times. We worked in collaboration with the Western Cape government and the provincial minister of health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo.
“The only times we would be subsiding is during the holy months of Ramadan (fasting), Eid, people going on pilgrimage, Easter and, of course, on Christmas and Boxing Day. There are no band practice sessions when most of our band members, our youth, are writing exams as well,” she says.
On Sunday they had fun, parading through areas such as Manenberg, Hanover Park, Bonteheuwel and Bo-Kaap.
“In the Bo-Kaap, we received refreshments while the band played old-school tunes with a modern twist. We were really entertaining young and old with music. They could reminisce about when they were young,” Davids says.
The next road march will take place in November to celebrate the birthday of Stemmet.
- For more information, call Faeeda Davids on 076 7557 340.
