Some updates on Cape Town end of 2009

Me on the 23rd of december 2009

Hi folks, long time no read? I’m still around the corner, stalking, observing and nourishing “To the unbeliever”. A lot of things certainly happened but it was a bit difficult for me to update you on them. Anyway, here is a summary of several marking events. There is a word on soccer (how Cameroonian living in cape town welcomed the news of the national team qualification to the world cup, the FIFA draw and Roger Milla visit), and a word on the Coons Carnival.

Yep, it’s summer time on Cape Town officially since the 1rst of December. The sun is high up there and people are showing off like you can imagine. They are defying the possible with their supposed relaxant outfits, quiet unveiling when it comes to women and rather home like when it is to consider men. Sun glasses of course are the rule.

Usually, the rather small Cameroonian community living in Cape Town assembles to watch the national team games at “Boom Boom Africa”, a small bar by Salt River (also Southriver). Every one has a dress with something referring to the country: a green shirt, a green red and yellow one, red hats or just a t-shirt with Cameroon written over it. That day, 12th of November 2009, Cameroon was playing Togo for the qualification to the 2010 football World Cup. South African television channels were not showing that game; but the Cameroonian national channel (CRTV) was. As usual, some problem occurred: No images for more than twenty minutes for purely Cameroonian reasons (The retransmission rights were not paid, the image provider didn’t fulfill his part of the contract … just guess what you can, the incredible truth is laying somewhere there). Anyway, once the images appeared soccer love and patriotism took over and at the end of the game, with 2 to 1 as score, it was time to celebrate all over the city, making noises to express how it feels to be from the country of the best African football team of the century. Yes Cameroon is qualified and now, the whole continent stands a chance to keep the cup for a while longer.

The FIFA draw was held in Cape Town, at the CT International Convention Center (CTICC) in the presence of President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Blater, Mr Hayatou, as well as other excellences, dignitaries and celebrities from all around the world. Zakumi the mascot was also present, of course. As a distinguished guess,

Roger Milla was part for of the festivities. He was just arriving in the city and he heard about the funeral, thus he pitched up. He came to Salt River Hall where Cameroonians were gathered in order to pay respect to a young man remains. He presented his condolences to the family representatives present there and shared his sympathy with the community for the loss. He explained that as a Cameroonian, were ever he goes, if there is a body, it is a duty to pay tribute and participate to the remains repatriation. And he left to have some rest. During the draw, he received an ovation for the great player that he was and his role as an ambassador for the African football community.

The story behind the Coon Carnival comes from the past, during the slavery period in South Africa and was running for more than a century now here in Cape Town. It seems that it was the celebration of the New Year by slaves whish were granted on that day the freedom to enjoy themselves. It is principally a “colored” affair. The participant and most of the spectators are from that racial group. It is hard to find white or black watching the bands parading, coming from the “Cape flats”, dressed like clowns, with paint on their faces, smiling, shouting, singing, making as much noise as they can. They come from places like Kuirlsriver, Lentegeur, Bonteheuvel, Athlone, Bridgetown, lansdown, and it is all about having and giving fun. There are so many troupes at the “Grand Parade” place (Nelson Mandela did his first address as a freeman over here) that it takes the whole day to see them all. Late in the evening after the parade, the party continues in the Cape Flats.