Why doesn’t the entire city of Cape Town celebrate the Carnival? Why don’t whites and Africans take part in larger numbers?
To some extent, the entire city does participate in the Carnival. Today, as in the past, spectators represent virtually every sector of Cape Town society. It’s true, however, that few whites and Africans participate actively in the Carnival. There are at least two reasons for this. First, as I explain below, the Carnival grew out of the particular history of the Coloured community. Second, South Africa was a deeply racist society for much of its history. Racial prejudice was strong and racial divisions were deep. Whites found the Carnival amusing, but generally didn’t want to get too close to its creators. Africans saw Carnival as something that had nothing to do with them. The end of white supremacy and the dawn of democracy in 1994 marked a new beginning for South Africa. As racial barriers slowly fall, it’s likely that more and more Capetonians of all colors will embrace the Carnival.
