2 January 1996 - A member of the ‘African Zonks’ troupe brandishes his team’s bord at the Cape Minstrel Carnival ‘Annuals’. Since the inception of the new South Africa there have been attempts by organisers to make the carnival more culturally inclusive. This year a traditional Xhosa troupe was included in the programme for the first time in its history. The use of African symbols like the spear and shield on this bord indicate a move away from the use of imported symbols of the past, such as the Apache (North American Indian) themes characterised by feathered headgear and hatchets, so popular with troupes like the ‘Atchas’. President Nelson Mandela was the guest of honour on this occasion, making it a historic day for many. The Kaapse Klopse (or simply Klopse), formerly known as the Coon Carnival and officially called Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, is a Cape coloured minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January in Cape Town, South Africa. It is also referred to as Tweede Nuwe jaar (Second New Year). As many as 13,000 minstrels take to the streets garbed in bright colours, either carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical instruments. The minstrels are self-organised into klopse ("clubs" in Kaapse Afrikaans, but more accurately translated as troupes in English). The custom has been preserved since the mid-19th century. People consider the festival a rite of renewal that has been shaped by the Cape's history.