Spirit of Tweede Nuwejaar Minstrel Parade kept alive through a symbolic demonstration

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The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town has kept the spirit of the tradition of the Tweede Nuwejaar Minstrel Parade alive by staging a symbolic demonstration.

The parade dates back to the times of slavery when they were given time off by the slave masters on the second of January to celebrate the New Year. But for two years the Cape tradition has not been staged because of the coronavirus restrictions.

Chief Executive Officer of the Castle Control Board, Calvyn Gilfellan says Cape Town is not the same without the minstrel parade at this time of the year.

“For a couple of years we said, COVID or not, restriction or not we are going to continue with this very important cultural and heritage legacy.”

Owner of the 7 Steps Minstrels Kader Miller says it is not easy that there is no marching on the streets. Miller says this time around, they do it for the frontline workers fighting COVID-19.

“We must not forget what the front line workers have done, we must never forget how much they are still fighting, we must never forget that they even fight for their own lives that they put on the line for our people, but we as the minstrels we don’t forget that today is the celebration of the New Year, a day we will never surrender, a day we must celebrate on the second of New Year, that’s why we are at the Castle of Good Hope.”

It was not only about the colourful minstrels, but also the melody of the Malay Choir.

The Castle of Good Hope has partnered with the Cape Muslim and Slave Heritage Museum. Curator of the Museum Igshaan Higgins says they will be dedicating some of their events to the memory of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

“Today despite the fact that it is Tweede Nuwejaar, normally the day of festivities and the commemoration of the slave memory, we will also remember that archbishop today, we will have a moment of silence for the archbishop and also people will be welcomed to take a tour of the Muslim and Slave heritage museum where there’s a few iconic photographs of the archbishop.”

Organisers say while slavery was officially abolished in 1934 but they will continue to mark the day as part of their history.