Come Saturday, 18 March, the Mother City will be bustling with “Afr’energy” as the much-loved Cape Town Carnival returns to its classic format for the first time in four years.
With eight floats, life-sized art and other art pieces, the carnival will be a celebration of individual creativity, cultural diversity and community empowerment.
More than 1 600 performers are set to take centre stage at the Cape Town Carnival’s first street parade since 2019 – City of Cape Town firefighters included.
For this year’s edition, 48 community performance groups from across the Western Cape will participate in the parade along with an array of individual performers, showcasing their unique talents while expressing the 2023 theme of “Afr’energy”.
They include Cape Town Carnival favourites such as the Western Province Marching Band, Masiphumelele drummers and the Eaon Crew, as well as 13 new community groups.
The parade will also have 43 lead performers this year.
The 2023 theme of “Afr’energy” symbolises the sense of reinvigoration that is being felt across the City after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Cape Town Carnival is one of these spaces that allows our youth to see the possibility of the creative sector,” says the Western Province MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport Anroux Marais.
“While our young creatives are able to display their skills in the parade, it is also a joyous experience to see young people watching the event and see their faces light up. This is how we show the power of the arts sector.”
While the carnival is returning to its classic format, there are some twists to this year’s parade.
Incorporating last year’s hub-based style, the performing crews will have static performances during processions to give the viewing public a front row seat to the story of “Afr’energy”.
The procession will now start at York Road near DHL Stadium and make its way along Somerset Road before finishing at Chiappini Street where the carnival parade previously kicked off.
The parade will officially start at 6pm and come to a close at 10pm.
There is no cost to enjoy the event, although paid-for seats are available at R395. For those looking for something extra, VIP tickets are also available.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
