11 January – Arts, Culture and Environment

Today we spoke to Kevin Momberg – Director of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association. Every year on the 2nd of January at Cape Town City Center the Cape Malay Minstrels troupes take to the streets in the celebration of the "Tweede Nuwejaar" carnival parade. It is said that the annual colourful spectacle originated when the slaves of the l8th century were granted a day off by their masters. While the minstrels’ parade is the highlight of the year for thousands of Cape Flats families others often express shock and horror at the idea that there is a cultural tradition that still identifies with the "coon" image. Mr Momberg explained the origins of the carnival and why we should embrace it as part of the Cape Culture. The minstrels’ competition is currently running at Athlone Stadium every Saturday from 2PM till the 9th of February when the winner for 2008 will be announced.

We also spoke to Berco Wilsenach – winner of the prestigious Absa l’Atelier Award 2005. Berco is exhibiting his new work as part of a comprehensive “Project for a blind astronomer”. In this exhibition Wilsenach examines the inaccessibility of language as a medium. The exhibition is at Bell-Roberts Contemporary Gallery, 89 Bree St, Cape Town. Up from the 12th of Jan till the 2nd of Feb 2008. For more information contact (021) 422 1100.

We were also joined by Nicky Slavis – from the South African National Circus School. The Circus School is giving training to those who are interested in joining the circus industry and the training is provided for free. They will have some equipment up at the Sea Point Promenade for public participation. For more information about the circus school contact (021) 692 4287 or send an email to sacircus@mweb.co.za

We closed off the show with an interview with Alan Jardine – CEO of the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds or SANCCOB. SANCCOB received over 400 orphaned African penguin chicks from Cape Nature’s Dyer Island at the end of October. The chicks will be hand-reared by SANCCOB over the next three months, and then released back into the wild. SANCCOB is appealing to the community to help save the chicks through donations towards SANCCOB’s Rescue Campaign, Mr Jardine explanied more about that campaign. For more information about SANCCOB’s “Rescue Campaign” contact Monique on (021) 557 6155 or visit www.sanccob.co.za

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