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The emergence and recognition of moffies as popular entertainers in the Cape Minstrel Carnival

2014; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 27; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/10137548.2014.876823

2163-7660

Bett Pacey,

South African History and Culture

Heterosexual cross-dressing has been a part of carnival masquerade since the Middle Ages. In later times groups of gay men donned female clothing and participated publicly in some carnivals (e.g. the New Orleans Mardi Gras), while also staging their own specifically gay events. Heterosexual (and clandestine gay) cross-dressing has formed part of the Cape Minstrel Carnival since its structured inception in 1907. Gay (moffie11. Derogatory Afrikaans term for gay man; yet freely used within the gay community. It is also an accepted term for the performer in the Cape Minstrel Carnival context.) troupes started their own carnival in the 1930s. Unique to the Cape Minstrel Carnival22. More popularly known by its Afrikaans name Die Kaapse Klopse. Previously (and still today informally) referred to as the Cape Coon Carnival (also see note 44. After objections to the use of the word 'coon' in more recent years, the name of the carnival was changed. Martin (2007 Martin, D., 2007. Chronicles of the Kaapse Klopse. Available at: http://132.204.113/176/upload/U7d320_DCM_Chronicles.pdf [Accessed 22 January 2014]. [Google Scholar], pp. ii–iii) puts the use of the word in perspective: 'Today's political correctness favours the use of the Afrikaans Kaapse Klopse when talking about the carnival troupes and their members.… Most of the revellers, however, when speaking in English about themselves and the troupes they affiliate with, will still use the word "Coons", and some will talk about "Minstrels". Outside observers may object to the use of such words, especially because of the meanings they have been given in the Unites States. While it is true that "Coon", an abbreviation of racoon, became associated in the first half of the nineteenth century with blackface minstrels and was given a racist meaning, one should not forget that words may have a life of their own and that, when they travel, their meanings change. The signification a word has in the United States cannot and should not be considered as the only signification a word can have in English elsewhere. In South Africa the understanding of "Coon" was totally transformed and came to signify the main character and the main mask in the New Year festivals; the great majority of those who use it – and would jubilantly claim "I am a Coon" – do so without knowing the history of the word and its acceptation in the United States; to them it just connotes "sports", fun, New Year enjoyment, satin, dancing and singing'.). is that moffie troupes were given public recognition when they were included in the official line-up in 1952, later leading to individual moffie performers heading the main minstrel troupes. This overt performance display of a gay subculture in the realm of popular entertainment happened at a time when cross-dressing (drag) was prohibited by law, homosexuality a taboo subject in society, and also unacceptable and censored in formal theatre performance. This article will look at issues around South African gay culture against a background of moral and legal strictures. Particular attention will be paid to the moffie subculture within the Cape 'Coloured' community and their-self expression as performers in the Cape Minstrel Carnival.