Thousands of colorfully costumed minstrels paraded through Cape Town Saturday in an exuberant century-old carnival rooted in the South African city’s history of slavery that drew large crowds of spectators. In glitzy uniforms matched with flashy hats, parasols and face paint, the marchers walked and danced through the city’s historic center in an annual event that an organizer said had grown to become the biggest such parade on the continent.

The highly anticipated New Year parade celebrates Cape Town’s mixed-raced community descended from slaves brought from Africa, Southwest Asia and Indian Ocean territories after the city was settled by the Dutch in the 1650s. Organizers said 18 troupes of around 20,000 performers took part in this year’s event, with marchers from all ages and accompanied by trumpets, trombones and tambourines.

A Kaapse Klopse minstrel dances as his troupe moves forward during the annual Kaapse Klopse parade.

A Kaapse Klopse minstrel walks by as his troupe.

A Kaapse Klopse minstrel fixes his tie ahead of joining his troupes.

Kaapse Klopse minstrels dance as their troupe moves forward.

Kaapse Klopse minstrels dance as their troupe moves forward.

Kaapse Klopse minstrels dance as their troupe moves forward.

A general view of Kaapse Klopse minstrels dancing as their troupe moves forward during the annual Kaapse Klopse parade, also known as "Tweede Nuwe Jaar" (second New Year), in Cape Town on January 4, 2025.--AFP photos

The first formal parade was held in 1907, Muneeb Gambeno, director of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association that organizes the event, told broadcaster SABC, with slavery abolished in Cape Town in 1834. Similar to London’s Notting Hill Carnival, it is the biggest event of its kind on the African continent, he said. — AFP