I just love Good Hope FM’s Best of Cape Town competition! Looking at acknowledging our home grown talent, and those artists that make this such a fun city to be a part of, we are proud that a number of our artists are involved in this project. Last week I wrote about CODA being a finalist, and this week I can tell you that Irit Noble will be performing at final event on 13 September at the Cape Town Convention Centre in a Sex & The City themed event!

Another of our artists that we are proud to see that has been included is The Eggman – that most unusual character that can be seen on most days strolling through St Georges Mall and on Greenmarket Square. Even though he studied Computer Science in Benin, before coming to South Africa a number of years ago, he has chosen Cape Town as his home, and has now become an important part of the cities landscape!

I first met Gregory Da Silva a number of years ago when we were supplying the City Improvement District with lunch time entertainment to get people out of their offices and out onto the streets of Cape Town to enjoy all the atmosphere the inner city has to offer. He always has the most beautiful smile, and because of the sheer size of his costume, he is constantly posing for photographs for foreign tourists in the city centre. with his massive headdress and truly African costume.

Gregory is from the small West African country of Benin; the believed birthplace of Vodun, or Voodoo as it has become known in the Caribbean after it reached there via the Slave Trade in the 1800’s. Since it was legalised in Benin in 1992, it is believed that some 60% of the countries population believe in indigenous religion, and so Voodoo has become an official belief.

Not that Gregory is into Voodoo… But his costume has recognisable elements from all over the continent, that include clusters of sea shells which were used as “old money”; eggs on his head-dress (which weighs some 25kg’s) as being symbolic of life; an arcane black bottle that Sangoma’s use to capture “good spirits” which heal sick people who pass him by; and a shard of mirror that hangs from his neck which is Voodoo is seen as a kind of window into the spiritual world, and a way to talk to the ancestors.

Gregory’s character is mainly inspired to “make people laugh” and “make people happy” and to represent different African cultures. Wanting he says to remember every single country on the continent; that each has its place, and something to offer.

To vote for Gregory at this years Best of Cape Town awards, you can Sms: A8 to 35432 (charged at R3/sms) and show your appreciation for another character that makes our city centre such a wonderful place to be!