The District Six Hanover Minstrels are more than a carnival group they are a heartbeat of Cape Town’s Coloured identity, a living testament to survival and resilience. Established in 2005, they are the first minstrel group to emerge in District Six since the forced removals almost 60 years ago. In a community fractured by displacement, the Minstrels have become a space for healing, hope, and renewal, giving the youth a reason to dream beyond the shadows of drugs, abuse, and crime.
Documenting the Hanover Minstrels during Tweede Nuwe Jaar has been an emotional journey, one that has brought me closer to a story of reclamation and defiance. This year, I had the privilege of capturing their energy, spirit, and unity once again. Their name, drawn from Hanover Street the vibrant artery of District Six before it was obliterated by apartheid’s Group Areas Act carries a profound weight. Between 1966 and 1983, homes and lives were uprooted, entire communities scattered to the outskirts of Cape Town, disconnected from the pulse of their heritage. Yet, the Minstrels have reclaimed this history, filling these hollowed spaces with music, movement, and an indomitable spirit of togetherness.
The Minstrels’ story is layered with generations of joy and pain. The tradition of the Minstrel Carnival, dating back to 1890 and rooted even further in colonial history, has survived decades of oppression. It has transformed from mere celebration to a powerful act of resistance a vibrant declaration of existence and identity. Today, the Hanover Minstrels take this legacy even further by creating opportunities for the youth. Their band and band school offer a lifeline, instilling a sense of purpose and belonging. In their laughter, discipline, and music, I see the threads of a brighter future being woven, one note at a time.
For the Grammers group exhibition at Lemkus Gallery that is now showing, I’ve sought to present their story in a way that feels as alive as they are. Printing on the very fabric the Minstrels wear connects the work to their essence. The draped material occupies space unapologetically, bold and present, yet fragile and ethereal much like the Minstrels themselves. This approach allows the work to embody their energy, their unity, and their defiance of erasure.
This marks my third year documenting the Minstrels, and it is just the beginning. I plan to continue, not only to celebrate their vibrant existence but to challenge the deep-seated marginalization their community has endured. Through contrasting traditional framed prints with fabric prints that reflect the texture and scale of their lived experience, I hope to capture both their resilience and the ephemeral beauty they embody in motion.
For me, this project is about more than capturing images it’s about bearing witness to a story that must be told. The Hanover Minstrels are a living reminder of the power of collective memory, of the joy that comes from reclaiming space, history, and identity. Their performances are an act of survival, a celebration of pride, and a beacon of hope. Through their music and movement, they show us that even in the face of displacement, the spirit of a community can rise, stronger and more beautiful than ever.