Africa, a continent known for its numerous traditions, is also known for its particularly lively music, most often bringing joy, dance and rhythm.
I would like to explore with you one of the African music genres , Kwaito.
Closely linked to dance, Kwaito is particularly trendy among young South Africans who like to wiggle their hips to this music. Moreover, we can point out that the main instruments used in this genre are traditional African instruments… Nothing is worth the traditional that has made generations dance to continue doing so. However, it implies the essential participation of a DJ!
When we listen to this frenzied music we can distinguish 2 voices… Indeed, this musical genre is frequently interpreted by 2 singers, a man and a woman, both interacting together like a musical comedy, but without the comedy.
The genre of this exceptional culture nonetheless distinguishes itself from many other international genres. Indeed, even if it happens that the Kwaito texts are written in African English, most often, they are written in the root languages of Africa, namely: Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans.
Created after Apartheid, this musical genre is also, and surely above all, a genre used to protest, drawing inspiration from the many pieces of music already produced against apartheid and transposing them to make them more joyful. Here is its story:
Who says anger can't have a positive meaning? Not the Kwaito singers, that’s for sure! Indeed, while the word “kwaito” is a derivation of “Afrikaans kwai” meaning “angry”, this musical genre serves a positive purpose! However, even for positive purposes, the appearance of this new fashion does not only make people happy, it also makes the old people really angry because of the texts, and
surely its second derivation “amakwaitosi dell'isicamtho” meaning gangster…
But! This did nothing to hinder the flowering of the kwaito.
While this is the product of various musical cultures such as marabi or house music, this genre appeared thanks to the end of apartheid, so the end of musical restrictions concerning the economy but above all the freedom of expression of artists from South Africa. Its first production was therefore made in the 90s in Johannesburg.
But, even if Kwaito was originally a way for the African National Congress to interfere in the world of music, and so, to have more private radio stations in South Africa, the genre triggered a real interest for the young people of South Africa and it is really anchored in their culture and current fashion. So, the artists have multiplied over the years, here are a few not to hesitate to listen to:
- Arthur Mafokate
- Mzekezeke
- Dash Brown
- Spikiri
- Msawawa
- Mshoza
- Thembi Seite
- Thandiswa Mazwai
…
And I wish you a good dance!
Hello everyone,
This post is very cool and cultural! Thank you Nina, for introducing the rhythm by explaining the origins of Kwaito. Many of us are in the habit of listening to music without doing any reflection or trying to understand why the lyrics are the way they are. So, as I understood it, Kwaito is the voice of members of a society that has been oppressed for years and has decided to talk about the feelings of that oppression through music. That is the beauty of the arts!