1 Grade 5 Music Term 1 KAAPSE KLOPSE/CAPE MINSTRELS The Kaapse Klopse is the minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January and it is also referred to as Tweede Nuwe Jaar in Cape Town. As many as 13,000 minstrels take to the streets garbed in bright colours, either carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical
2 instruments such as banjos, guitars, ghoema drums, whistles, trombones, trumpets and tubas. They perform small, short steps in time to the beat of the music. The minstrels are self-organised into klopse ( clubs in Kaapse Afrikaans, but more accurately translated as troupes in English). Participants are typically from Afrikaans-speaking working class Cape coloured families who have preserved the custom since the mid-19 th century. Although it is called the Coon Carnival by Capetonians, local authorities have renamed the festival the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival as foreign tourist find the term coon derogatory. HISTORY On the eve of 1 January, people will gather in the Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter on Signal Hill) to await the Tweede Nuwe Jaar with songs of the Malay Choirs and Ghoema drums until the dawn of a New Year. During the 19 th century, the New Year was celebrated by the Dutch and was considered to be the biggest annual feast. Slaves would get the day off on 2 January and were allowed to celebrate in their own manner. Slavery was officially abolished in the Cape in December 1834 and so the Tweede Nuwe Jaar became a celebration that united the creole culture of Cape Town.
3 The Group Areas Act of 1966 declared District Six a whites only area, resulting in approximately 60,000 residents being evicted and moved to parts of the Cape Flats, such as Manenberg and Mitchells Plain. The act resulted in communities losing their sense of belonging to the communities they grew up in. In 1967, the Carnival was banned from the Green Point Stadium, where it had been held since 1907. From 1971, Athlone Stadium was used for the non-white spectators. The event was moved between various stadiums in order to keep it alive until 1989, when the event returned to its original route from District Six to the Green Point Stadium. The Tweede Nuwe Jaar is celebration of a community s survival and illustrates the continuity between past, present and future. The now deceased iconic musician, Taliep Peterson, is claimed to have said Dis onse dag! ( It is our day ). The klopse have played a significant role in addressing social challenges like crime, drug abuse and AIDS. It is also used to build bridges between the communities after the Apartheid era. The activities paved the way for world famous musicians like Taliep Peterson and Jonathan Butler who both received the Juvenile Sentimental Trophy awards in previous competitions.
4 Well known songs sung by the minstrels: 1. Pollie, ons gaan Perel toe Pollie, we are going to Paarl 2. Bobbejaan klim die berg Baboon climbs the mountain 3. Daar kom die Alibama There comes the Alabama DAAR KOM DIE ALIBAMA DAAR KOM DIE ALIBAMA THE LYRICS Daar kom die Alibama Die Alibama kom oor die see Nooi, nooi die rietkooi nooi Die rietkooi is gemaak Die rietkooi is vir my gemaak Om daarop te slap Die Alibama, die Alibama Die Alibama kom oor die see.
5 DAAR KOM DIE ALIBAMA THE SHEET MUSIC Watch Daar kom die Alibama being performed by the Ghoema band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqujg_mcyxg This song is typical of those sung by the Kaapse Klopse at the Tweede Nuwe Jaar festival. This is a festival of Cape Town s coloured community, whose mixed ancestry has its origins in the Malay and East Indian slaves as well as the indigenous population and European settlers. South Africa s slaves were freed in 1834 and the festive Coon Carnival on 2 January every year is a reminder of this historical event.
6 In 1863, during the American Civil War, a Confederate ship called the Alabama chased a Yankee ship all the way from America to the Cape. The Yankee ship was captured and brought into Cape Town harbour by the Alabama to the great excitement of the local population. The event is commemorated in this cheerful song. Activity 1 After listening to and watching the video of Daar kom die Alibama, learn the words of the song. Then divide into rows of 3 in order to perform the song as a Cape Minstrel. Remember to use small, short steps to perform in time to the beat of the music. Use your arms in different ways to show the use of umbrellas or hats swinging about. Decide beforehand exactly when these movements will happen. Make sure that you perform movements together as a group rather than each person on their own. THINK LINE DANCE! Use the following video as inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvbagnh66zm Desmond Tutu said: Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. In fact, that is all that ever has. Just imagine the potential if we were to join hands!
7 TIN CAN DANCE Pre-Activity Materials: 2 empty cold drink cans for each learner. Learning in this activity Using polyrhythms Moving on different levels and with a prop Combining rhythm and movement Using contrast The process: Invite a class discussion around the question - When is it important for us all to be the same, and when is it important to respect our differences? Ask the learners to bring 2 empty cold drink cans. Divide the class into groups of 6. Each learner needs to be holding 2 cans. Start the activity off with a basic beat, and ask your learners to keep the beat constant through the song. The learners are to explore the area around their bodies while keeping the beat going and now singing the song.
8 TIN CAN DANCE LYRICS If you want to do the tin can dance Just pick up 2 tin cans And play percussion while you dance With the tin cans in your hands Clap cans together in the air And hit them on the ground A single clap, a double clap Cans can make great rhythmic sounds Oh, you can, yes you can You can do the can can tin can dance (X2) Watch the following video showing girls dancing a tin and gumboot dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uymre90689c Activity 2 INSTRUCTIONS: In groups of 6, learn the Tin Can song and create a dance using the tins as percussion instruments to accompany the song: Learn to sing the song Explore different areas around the body Combine song and percussion movements Work in unison MARKING CRITERIA: You will be marked as follows: 5 marks for song 5 marks for at least 5 areas explored around body 5 marks for combined singing and movements 5 marks for unison movements
9 RUBRIC FOR TIN CAN SONG AND DANCE: Criteria 5 Outstanding achievement 4 Substantial achievement 3 Moderate achievement 2 Elementary achievement 1 Not achieved Song Knew the words and sang in pitch Some errors in words and pitch Many errors in words and pitch Not all the words known and pitch not secure Unable to sing in pitch and words not known Choreography of movements 5 areas of body explored successfully Only 4 areas were explored Only 3 areas were explored successfully Only 2 areas were explored successfully Unable to successfully move around body Combined singing and movement Successfully combined singing and movements Some errors noted in the execution of movements while singing Many errors noted in both singing and movement Was not successful in movement and singing was weak Unable to combine movement and singing Unison of movement in group Excellent group work Errors noted in unison movement Some errors noted in the movement. Movement was disjointed Unable to keep continuity of movement in group TOTAL: 20