The Cape Town Carnival was thrilled to have international stars from around the world taking part in this year’s parade, which took place on 18 March along the Green Point Fan Walk. Dancers and drummers from the Rio Carnival Samba school, Unidos da Tijuca and New York-based singer Oshri Elmorich touched down in South Africa last week, while carnival crews from the United Kingdom and India, brought out by Brouhaha International, while Liverpool also added their international flair to the event.
“The Rio Carnival has been around for 300 years and it is an honour to have Unidos da Tijuca join us this year,” says Jay Douwes, CEO of the Cape Town Carnival. Oshri will perform “Crazy but Free” his hit song which is the carnival theme song for 2017.
The singing and dancing stars’ first stop was Johannesburg, where they gave media and MultiChoice staff a sneak peek of what to expect at Cape Town’s premium street party last weekend. M-Net is a very proud sponsor and wanted to let all South Africans be able to witness its wonder and magic.
Performers from a variety of Cape Town communities paraded in beautiful costumes in this year’s “AMAZA – Ocean Odyssey” carnival. Brad Baard, creative director of the Cape Town Carnival, says he and his team enjoyed coming up with the incredible concepts that were revealed at the parade. “We have playful beachgoers, colourful beach huts, rockpool creatures and shipwrecks that were among the exciting displays on show,” he says.
Local celebrities were part of the festivities and mingled with the spectators. Sponsors M-Net and DStv had great activations happening during the afternoon, prior to the beginning of the parade itself, including appearances from Idols judges and former contestants. Members of the cast of Suidooster television series were also available to meet the public; celebrities from local entertainment-news TV show V Entertainment were signing autographs for fans; while DJs from Western Cape radio station Kfm also joined in on a beach-inspired float.
Award-winning DJs Fresh and Euphonik from Channel O kept the festivities going with a post-parade open-air party at the end of the Fan Walk, from a larger-than-life sea-urchin float.
About The Cape Town Carnival
The Cape Town Carnival, held annually in March, is the country’s pre-eminent street parade. It showcases and celebrates the vibrant diversity of Cape Town – and South Africa – with more than 50 community groups bringing the Green Point Fan Walk alive with spectacular floats, giant puppets and extravagant costumes. Thousands of spectators from all over the world converge along the 1.2km parade route. The Cape Town Carnival is one of the top seven jewel events of Cape Town and is a flagship project of the National Department of Arts and Culture.
KARINA VAN DEN HEEVER
Dummett & Co, Cape Town
021-418-2466
084-347-3358
karina@dummettandcompany.co.za
