New Year Carnival and the Alibama exhibition

New Year Carnival and the Alibama exhibition opened the recently upgraded Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum

Iziko Museums of Cape Town’s Social History Collections department presents New Year Carnival and the Alibama.  This exhibition opens on 15 June 2010 and coincides with the reopening of the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum which has recently undergone considerable renovations.

This exhibition compliments the Ghoema & Glitter: New Year Carnival in Cape Town exhibition which currently runs at the Iziko Good Hope Gallery at the Castle of Good Hope. Displaying New Year Carnival and the Alibmama at the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum signifies the neighbourhood’s important role in terms of the history and geography of the carnival. Cape Town carnival is an urban phenomenon with marching routes which historically linked the two largest inner-city residential areas; namely the Bo-Kaap and District Six.

New Year Carnival and the Alibama introduces the history of Cape Town’s ‘Tweede Nuwe Jaar’ Carnival by particularly exploring the stories behind the famous Afrikaans song Daar kom die Alibama, created in Cape Town during the second half of the 19th century. This song is traditionally sung by Klopse and Nagtroepe (Malay Choirs) and played to a ghoema (drum) rhythm. This exhibition showcases the rare flag of the Confederate States of America flown on the steamship CSS Alabama, which was donated to the South African Museum in the 1920s.

New Year Carnival and the Alibama runs at the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum from 15 June until 30 November 2010.
The exhibition can be viewed Mondays to Saturdays from 10:00 until 17:00.
Visitors 16 years and older pay R10, while 16 years and under are welcomed for free. 
South African pensioners, school learners and students pay R5.
Free entrance on selected commemorative days.

The Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum recently underwent extensive renovations and upgrading.  The museum is now wheel-chair friendly, with a ramp allowing disabled visitors to enter via the courtyard. The museum also has a lift ensuring access to the community hall.

For more information please visit our website Enquiries can be directed to Fiona Clayton on 021 464 1267, or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Alternatively, please contact Katie Mooney on 021 464 1262 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or Shanaaz Galant on 021 464 1276 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Iziko acknowledges the support of the National Lottery Development Trust Fund in the marketing of our 2010 projects.

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