The most impressive thing about the Fabulous Woodstock Starlites is their spirit, their esprit de corps. (Like many Carnival troupes, the Starlites take part of their name from the neighborhood in which their klopskamer [clubhouse] is located. Woodstock is an historic neighborhood near downtown Cape Town.) If you spend any time at all with the troupe, you’ll be caught up in its energy and sense of fun. You’ll also be aware of its members’ capacity for hard work and their determination to retain their place as one of the top troupes in Cape Town.
Nobody embodies the spirit of the Fabulous Woodstock Starlites better than its owner, Jamaldien Jumah. That’s him below, on the left, speaking with his Senior and Junior Drum Majors, on 3 January 2009. I made this photo and ones that follow capture the scene just before the troupe boarded the busses that would take them to downtown Cape Town, for the Carnival's annual parade through the city center.
PS Like many Carnival troupes, the Starlites have several hundred members. Below, Jumah leads his troupe to the busses that will take them downtown.
John these images are truly rich and capture the diverse creative work done by men in Cape Town that belie the popular prejudices that coloured men are only gangsters and thugs. I can't wait to lay my hands on your forthcoming book - it will be a welcome contrast to the prejudicial images captured in works such as the collection by David Lurie. Great stuff. Elaine Salo
Posted by: Elaine Salo | 04 June 2009 at 05:52 AM
@ Elaine
Thanks very much. It's good to hear that about my work from someone who knows the carnival community as well as you do.
Posted by: John Edwin Mason | 04 June 2009 at 08:22 AM
Great work luv the pics'
Posted by: aadilah benjamin | 06 January 2010 at 04:07 AM
Very glad that you liked them, Aadilah.
Posted by: John Edwin Mason | 06 January 2010 at 04:42 AM