The first annual Cape Town Carnival was conceived as a community project aimed at bringing together the diverse communities of the City of Cape Town through music, dance, and cultural expression, culminating in a weekend of inclusive fun for Capetonians and visitors alike.
The Cape Town Carnival is a celebration of diversity. Over centuries very many people from the four corners of planet Earth were drawn together, at the foot of the finest table in the whole world.
Cape Town Carnival seeks to harness this compelling diversity and commitment to the soil in a celebration of SONG, DANCE and CREATIVE abundance.
The lack of a unifying event in Cape Town was identified during a visit to the Rio Carnival. Although Cape Town has no shortage of cultural offerings combining music, dance and other kinds of creativity, these all seem to be catering for particular niches. One thus never sees the rich tapestry of music genres, dance styles together, as an expression of the heart of Cape Town, rich in its diversity.
The beauty of a Carnival is that it allows participation of all, from rich to poor, from children to the elderly. The Cape Town Carnival engages dancers, artists, musicians, engineers – people from every strata of the community in a project that will cross cultural and racial boundaries. It is also aimed at socio-economic development, drawing more tourists to the city and extending the tourist season.
It is also an effort to facilitate better relations amongst the various communities of the broader city of Cape Town.
