South Africa

A Western Influence

The music of South Africa has changed and adapted over the years, bringing influence from other countries to create its own cultural identity in music. Beginning in the 17th century, South Africans began using Western-influenced instruments such as the ramkie, a guitar-like instrument, and the mamokhorong, a one-stringed violin.

Cape Town in South Africa was considered the melting pot of many different cultures and influences. A carnival that still is popular today runs in Cape Town yearly, and it features many different musical forms. In the early carnival days, Western-style music was popular, and after British domination in the early 1800s, South Africans would march the streets in British military style playing marching tunes.

Also around this time, South African missionary music became popular, starting a gospel movement. This type of music was drawn from church hymns and spiritual chants. Choirs and a capella groups became very prominent during this time as well. 

This a capella style did not come and go with the gospel movement, however. Music in South Africa today relies heavily on vocal music sans instrumentals. 

In the early 20th century, new styles of music began to spring up. Marabi was a style of music that relied on the keyboard and resembled American ragtime and blues styles, which were also becoming popular overseas.  This music form developed into South African-style jazz over the years, making it one of the most popular music forms in the country and adding to its distinct musical style.

By the second half of the 20th Century, music in South Africa was beginning to develop a distinct blend of sound. By this time, South Africans embraced yet another style of music that was classified as part of the black urban culture. The "African stomp" became a very popular musical style, along with the use of more and more percussion instruments.

Unfortunately, this black urban style of music was short-lived, and in the late 1950s, new styles of jazz sprung up, such as the Western style of bebop. 

In the '60s and '70s, South Africa faced years of severe repression, and music was the only thing that some had to turn to. Many South African jazz musicians were forced into exile during this time. Yet African jazz bands grew increasingly popular among the country's people. 

In the later decades of the 20th century, South Africa was introduced to other Western styles of music, as white musicians began coming over to share their styles. In the '60s, acid rock bands began spreading their hippiness, the '70s welcomed boy bands and the '80s introduced punk and alternative rock. And finally, in the 1990s, South Africa was introduced to the ever-growing genre of pop. 

Today, South Africa enjoys an eclectic blend of traditional African jazz music and more Western styles of pop, rock and electronic.

Mandoza

The South African musician Mandoza is known for kwaito, a South African style of music that is very similar to the Western style of house music. It can also be compared to garage music or electronic hip-hop. 

As a young adult, Mandoza's talents were first realized by Arthur Mafokate, otherwise known as the King of Kwaito. The artist and his band, Chiskop, was first aired on the Durban Youth Radio by DJ Sipho Mbatha.

Chiskop signed a record contract and released two albums, Klaimer and Zonke Bonke, gaining them national recognition and popularity among the music scene. Mandoza, however, broke away from the band to start a solo career. 

His first album in 1999, 9115 Zola South, was widely popular and earned Mandoza a 2000 FNB South African Music Awards Best Newcomer nomination. Through the years, the singer has released many other albums, gaining him even greater popularity and notoriety in the kwaito music scene. 

Mandoza sings solely in South Africa's many languages, switching it up between English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa. Although kwaito music is typically dance and electronic oriented, its lyrics are not lacking in depth. Mandoza, however, is known for introducing an atypical style of kwaito music that focuses more on sending an inspirational message to South African people.

Egypt

Music of the Pharaoh

Egypt is another country that finds its musical identity in blending sounds from other countries. Most Egyptian music comes from the early Indian musical styles and other African countries.

The majority of Egyptian instruments are stringed or woodwind such as the kemengah, which is similar to the viola and the nay which resembles a flute. One of the more popular instruments is called the rabab, which has a deep and monotonous sound, and it is often accompanied with the reciting of poems and romances.

One of the most identifiable forms of Egyptian music is singing and chanting in unison on top of a backdrop of diverse percussion instrumentals.

Western classical music was introduced to Egypt in the 19th century along with more modern instruments like the piano and violin. Opera also became a popular form of art and entertainment. 

Other than traditional folk music, Egypt also deems religious music as very important. Coptic music is a popular Egyptian style of music of the Coptic Church. The music is comprised of chanting hymns accompanied by cymbals.

In the early 20th century, Egypt was introduced to recorded music, and in 1909, the first record label, His Master’s Voice, was created. Shortly after, the gramophone became popular for listening to music. In the next decades, Egyptian music evolved with both Arabic and Western influence.

Egyptian music today is comprised of many different musical elements, including rock, techno and Top 40 pop music. However, many Egyptians still hold true to traditional music styles which are still performed live and broadcasted on the radios.

Amr Diab

The most renowned musician in Egypt, Amr Diab is also the best-selling Arab musical artist of all time. The singer and composer is most known for his el-geel pop music, which is an Egyption form of pop music that borrows elements from Western rock ‘n’ roll and pop music. The genre also combines elements of dance music and reggae. 

Diab is very popular both in his country and around the world. He was awarded the World Music Award three times along with many other different awards for various reasons. In addition to Arabic music, Diab is also known as the Father of Mediterranean Music, having created his own genre of music dubbed “Mediterranean Sound,” which mixes elements of Egyptian and Western sounds. 

Diab’s music career began in the mid-eighties with his album Ya Tareeq. The singer gained quick recognition and especially became popular for his Mediterranean/Arabic music, which mixed Western sounds with traditional Arabic sounds, a style that was new in the music world.

In addition to his music, Diab is also well known for his pop-star image. He is considered by many as being “rebellious” with his more fashionable hairstyles and clothing. The singer had a brief film career in the early ‘90s, but he has more recently focused solely on his music.

The musician also introduced music videos to the Egypt music scene, appearing in his own videos and collaborating with renowned music video directors from the Middle East. One of the most popular videos is 2007’s “Ne'oul Aih,” which was successfully broadcasted on Egyptian television.