by Seehaam Samaai
The Kaapse Klopse are synonymous with the Cape and the spirit of freedom, festivity and colour that the annual event brings the residents and visitors of the Mother City is well known.
Rooted in the history of Struggle amongst the under-classes of the city for hundreds of years, the Carnival will now be sponsored by a betting company.
Although there is already support amongst the minstrel fraternity for this sponsor, the support is mainly due to the cash money and other material incentives the sponsorships may yield, and the fact that there has been no cultural expression given over the last two years due to Covid-19 (which itself is a challenge).
It remains the prerogative of the City of Cape Town to organise the Carnival, mobilise resources for the Carnival and to make the resources available to the Cape Flats communities.
Let us remind ourselves that this is a carnival of the people from the City of Cape Town municipal area for the world to remember our slave history.
Although gambling is viewed as a legitimate recreational and leisure activity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), healthcare professionals and policymakers are well aware that gambling has the potential to become dysfunctional in a minority. (Ssewanyana D; Bitanihirwe B, 2018)
Gambling severely increase the risk of developing further problematic gambling behaviour and generational trauma that can be seen in and around the casinos of Cape Town.
Social problems associated with this kind of gambling threatens our youth, it is time to draw the line; and we say this is it!
According to emerging research, problem gambling is increasingly becoming a public health concern in SSA, particularly among youth. (Ssewanyana D; Bitanihirwe B, 2018).
With 38 legally functioning casinos, South Africa now has the most casinos on the continent. While the gambling sector is thought to be good for the economy through employment and revenue, gambling addiction is becoming a public health problem in SSA, particularly among young people (aged 10–24 years old).
Indeed, research done in three South African townships discovered a disproportionately higher (7%) frequency of gambling-related problems in poor households compared to affluent households (3%) (Ssewanyana D; Bitanihirwe B, 2018).
One therefore cannot simply take the value out of the heart of our generational struggle by saying yes to the highest bidder.
The City of Cape Town has turned the Carnival into a laughing stock in recent years, funding is never sufficient, while the route has never been respected and the Bo-Kaap Community has not been engaged as equals.
Our youth are particularly facing unprecedented challenges. Gentrification is real and the appropriation of our history and culture always looms.
The original route from District Six to Bo-Kaap has been eroded over the years, while community involvement and benefit remains sorely lacking.
The route has heritage value and requires recognition as such. The route has been challenged for many years in various forms.
For instance, stopping the route before Bo-Kaap, not allowing back marchers, moving the Voorsmakie to Kenilworth racecourse, hosting “Tafels”, changing the name and allowing one organisation to monopolise the event.
The Bo-Kaap community has for many years challenged these through Justice Kate O’Regan’s Minstrel and Choirs Agreement of 2007.
Many might not see this Agreement as sacrosanct, but it remains the only legal document which unifies all the Minstrels and Choir boards in the Western Cape.
This agreement must be fortified through official heritage status and appropriate national, provincial and local government funding must be allocated to preserve the heritage of the route.
Proper consultative processes with affected communities like D6, Woodstock, Walmer Estate, Bo-Kaap, and the Cape Flats areas like Lentegeur, Heideveld, Hanover Park, etc. must start early in the year and the City must allocate appropriate resources which will benefit these communities over years to come.
National Government must give it heritage status so that future generations have to worry less about selling our culture to appropriating sponsors.
The sponsorship of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) requires unique interests where patronage cannot enable influence on the specific practices of a cultural event.
Changing the name of the world-renowned Tweede Nuwe Jaar to HollywoodBets is akin to cigarette and alcohol advertising that carries a danger of an addiction tag with it.
The changing of the name of the event is clear cultural appropriation and advertising guised as community upliftment.
With these events you need to stay true to your values, so that there are more opportunities to build a deeper understanding of the spaces and power you occupy and the audiences you cater to and for.
Sadly, over the past few years, the City of Cape Town has allowed and perpetuated the divisions and have given power over one group and community over the other.
This had led to one group to take over of the creative or artistic forms, themes, and practices in a manner that does not recognise the origin, meaning and true value of the heritage and cultural events like the Voorsmakie, Tweede Nuwe Jaar event and the route.
When dealing with Oujaarsaand and Tweede Nuwe Jaar, it is important to consider the different experiences, stories and values at play for the brand, our communities and the culture at large.
When we consider these factors, we can get closer to addressing what people really want from the Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations.
If we don’t reflect on our values and lead with authenticity in negotiations, our community engagements and our social justice messaging, then we’re going to miss the mark in developing our communities.
We know funding remains a challenge but with engagement and better communication, we can steer clear of selling our souls.
We live in unprecedented times… and we demand that this must be acknowledged as a Heritage Route with appropriate recognition for what this event means to the people of the city of Cape Town.
* Seehaam Samaai is a community and cultural activist and African feminist lawyer.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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