In preparation for the annual eMzantsi carnival, Simon’s Town School has been getting down to the samba-ghoemae Mzantsi sound and serving up a funky soundtrack that wafts across the town during the sleepy winter season on Tuesday afternoons. Grade 9 pupils are quickly mastering djembes, surdos, snares and other instruments in order to join the established Ocean View based eMzantsi Bloka band, who have performed at a variety of national and local events. Leo Letsape, the Bloka’s bandleader and composer, visited one of the weekly workshops to help prepare and practice parade formation for carnival day in Red Hill. Here he is pictured with Anusha Manuel, Wanisha Jantjies and school programme lead, Michelle van Blommenstein, all in red.