Music

A look at the South African music scene from Kwaito to Metal

by Ciaran Thompson

In light of the millions of viewers all across the world tuning in to the World Cup over the next Month, we’ll be taking a look at several global music scenes to provide you with some music to cheer on your country. This week we look at South Africa, who are hosting the tournament.

Today the most popular sporting event in the world kicks off for the first time on African soil with Mexico taking on host nation South Africa in the 2010 World Cup. A lot of attention has been drawn on Africa’s southernmost country’s historical and political background leading up to the tournament. With 11 official languages and the largest European, Indian and racially mixed communities, South Africa has plenty of cultural aspects within its borders to keep writers at their computers for days. Profiling the current music scene in the country is where we come in.

The beginning of South African music started during the Dutch colonial era in the 17th century where indigenous tribes-people and imported slaves from the east adopted western music to invent their own instruments such as the mamokhorong, a single-string violin. For a detailed look at the country’s music history, a great deal can be found at The International Marketing Council of South Africa website.

Today the country boasts a vast array of musicians spanning several different genres signing in English, Afrikaans and other traditional African languages. One of the most notable music forms to develop within the country is Kwaito, which is house, hip-hop and R&B music combined with local sounds. Starting during the late ’80s, the vocals with this type of music are usually chanted rather than sung and it’s seen in some instances as a political force with lyrics centered around oppression. It has taken the country by storm and spread to the United States and Europe. Some popular Kwaito artist include Big Nuz, Zola, Mandoza and Brown Dash (below).

On the rock front, South Africa has produced many bands that have now found solid fan bases in the United States including Just Jinger, who have toured with U2, The Parlotones and Seether, the closest sounding Nickleback band to come out of the continent. The country has also seen a steady rise in heavy metal acts such as Ancient Influence, FearFall and Warthane. The annual MotherFudd Festival is an exclusive metal music event while other festivals within South Africa such as Oppikoppi, Splashy Fen and Rocking the Daisies all include different genres.

Xhosa singer Simphiwe Dana is one of South Africa’s most popular singers combining jazz, pop and traditional music. The Xhosa people speak Bantu languages based around the south eastern part of the country. Dana has been compared to former South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba, often referred to Mama Afika. Another prominent singer is Thandiswa Mazwai, who was previously the lead vocalist and songwriter for Kwaito band Bongo Maffin.

The South African Music Awards were introduced in 1995 and are held annually at Sun City, a resort in the North West Province and have become the equivalent of the Grammy Awards in the United States. Run by the Recording Industry of South Africa the winners of each of the awards, which categories celebrate all of the country’s music such as Kwaito, Gospel, Rap, Rock, Dance and Jazz, are given a statuette called a SAMA. Overall it has helped raise awareness of local artists and bands that are beginning to sprout up all across the land between the south Atlantic and India Oceans.