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.