Music of South Africa
Composer Enoch Sontoga wrote the Southern African national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika in 1897. This single act marked a turning point where African, European, and Asian musical traditions began to merge following colonial arrival. By the end of the nineteenth century, cities like Cape Town grew large enough to attract foreign musicians. American ragtime players arrived during this period to perform for local audiences. In the 1890s, Orpheus McAdoo's Jubilee Singers popularized African-American spirituals across the region. Makwaya blended these imported hymns with close harmony singing styles native to the area. The discovery of gold and diamonds in the late 1800s triggered rapid urbanization. Black people left their villages to work in mines but could not own property due to the Natives Land Act of 1913. They lived in slums that would later become townships after apartheid began in 1948.
Shebeens arose in the black community because alcohol was sold secretly starting in 1927. Women used traditional beer brewing skills to make Umqombothi for the new urban class. These venues became the only place where people were allowed to express themselves freely. Jazz fused with African traditional music to create Marabi by the early 1920s. Sophiatown served as the vibrant multiracial suburb where this genre was pioneered. By the end of the 1920s, Marabi had become wildly popular despite its sordid reputation. Drug dealers and criminals were frequently associated with the dance style. Despite being shunned by White South Africans and educated Black classes, it thrived in Johannesburg. Miriam Makeba, Dolly Rathebe, Hugh Masekela, and Abdullah Ibrahim emerged as stars from this era. Pennywhistle jive, later known as kwela, became the first major style of South African popular music. Willard Cele is usually credited with creating pennywhistle by placing a six-holed flute between his teeth at an angle. Groups of flautists played on streets in the 1950s, often facing arrest for public disturbance.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo took their first step into the international arena via Paul Simon on his Graceland album in 1986. The group originated from dreams experienced by Joseph Shabalala in 1964. Their first album Amabutho released in 1973 sold over 25,000 copies to become the first gold record by black musicians. The Graceland tour of 1987 propelled them to global stardom. Hugh Masekela achieved a big hit with Grazing in the Grass in 1968 that reached number one on the Billboard pop chart. Johnny Clegg became prominent as the only major white musician playing traditional black music in France. He was known as Le Zoulou Blanc or The White Zulu during the 1970s. Mango Groove exploded into national consciousness with its ten times platinum debut album in 1989. They were the only South African act invited to perform at the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. The group also appeared before 200,000 people at the SOS Racisme concert in Paris.
In 1994, South African media liberalized and new musical styles arose immediately. Kwaito originated in Soweto, Johannesburg, in the 1980s but went mainstream in the 1990s. Synthesizers and electronic instruments are common features of this slow-tempo house variation. Stars like Trompies, Bongo Maffin, TKZee, Mandoza, and Boom Shaka defined the era. Brenda Fassie announced her status as the pre-eminent female vocalist with Weekend Special in 1983. She remained unmatched until her untimely death in 2004. Yvonne Chaka Chaka began rising popularity with I'm in Love With a DJ in 1984. Her work spread across Africa and into Europe throughout the 1990s. Gqom gospel emerged in the 21st century following earlier gospel trends. Shangaan electro developed into a recognized Afro-futurist genre spearheaded by DJ Khwaya and producer Nozinja. Bacardi house combined percussive elements with pop-synth melodies during the 2000s. Vusi Ma R5 is honorifically known as the King of Bacardi for hits like Tse Nyane.
Afrikaans music saw a resurgence in the 1980s through the Voëlvry movement. Johannes Kerkorrel and his Gereformeerde Blues Band spearheaded this artistic counter-culture hostile to National Party values. The movement included musicians Bernoldus Niemand and Koos Kombuis who tapped into dissatisfaction among white Afrikaans speakers. Steve Hofmeyr, Nádine, Kurt Darren, and Nicolis Louw brought fresh sounds after 1994. In 2004, an album by balladeer Steve Hofmeyr was named best-selling album of the year. An Afrikaans song about Boer War general Koos de la Rey became a hit in 2007 amid debates on cultural nostalgia. Fokofpolisiekar became the first group to create alternative rock in Afrikaans. Their controversial name drew public attention and made them symbols of the revival. Jack Parow continued Cape's development of Afrikaans rap from pioneers Brasse vannie Kaap. His 2009 single Cooler as Ekke found success as far afield as Holland.
The South African Music Awards were introduced to recognize accomplishment in the recording industry. Winners include Karen Zoid, Freshlyground, Tasha Baxter, and Seether. Four major areas focus the scene: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein centers predominantly around metal and Afrikaans genres while others cover wide-ranging styles. Woodstock South Africa, MotherFudd, Oppikoppi, Rocking the Daisies, and Splashy Fen are annual festivals. The 2008 Motherfudd festival had a lineup of 30 bands with two stages near Hartebeespoort. Oppikoppi started in 1994 and is held in Limpopo near Northam. Originally a rock festival, it expanded to include other genres. Splashy Fen is an annual Easter festival on a farm near Underberg focusing on rock and reggae music. Skouspel is a televised concert sponsored by Huisgenoot magazine at Sun City resort. It focuses primarily on Afrikaans music featuring big names and new artists. Potchefstroom serves as the newest development ground for Afrikaans rock music with bands like Straatligkinders.
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Common questions
Who wrote the Southern African national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and when was it composed?
Composer Enoch Sontoga wrote the Southern African national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika in 1897. This single act marked a turning point where African, European, and Asian musical traditions began to merge following colonial arrival.
When did Shebeens arise in the black community and what role did they play in South African music history?
Shebeens arose in the black community because alcohol was sold secretly starting in 1927. These venues became the only place where people were allowed to express themselves freely and fostered the creation of Marabi by the early 1920s.
How did Ladysmith Black Mambazo achieve international stardom and what was their first gold record?
Ladysmith Black Mambazo took their first step into the international arena via Paul Simon on his Graceland album in 1986. Their first album Amabutho released in 1973 sold over 25,000 copies to become the first gold record by black musicians.
What is Kwaito and when did it originate and go mainstream in South Africa?
Kwaito originated in Soweto, Johannesburg, in the 1980s but went mainstream in the 1990s. Synthesizers and electronic instruments are common features of this slow-tempo house variation that defined stars like Trompies, Bongo Maffin, TKZee, Mandoza, and Boom Shaka.
Which movement caused a resurgence in Afrikaans music during the 1980s and who spearheaded it?
Afrikaans music saw a resurgence in the 1980s through the Voëlvry movement. Johannes Kerkorrel and his Gereformeerde Blues Band spearheaded this artistic counter-culture hostile to National Party values.