Kwaito

Kwaito is the name of a created in the 1990s South African music scene or style. The music is based on slowing house beats and chords, this is a singing or chanting in Zulu, Sotho, Tsotsitaal (or Camtho ) or other languages ​​.

• 3.1 Sampler
• 3.2 Examples of typical style pieces

Etymology

The name origin is not known for sure: Either it is a composition of Kwaai ( Afrikaans for: Cool be anger or energy) and To for the townships, or an allusion to the legendary Amakwaitos -course from the townships southwest of Johannesburg - the later Soweto - in the 1950s.

Origins

The question of the origins and in particular the extent to which Kwaito is a form of hip hop is highly controversial. Dancehall / Ragga and rhythm and blues are often seen as essential additional influences. But especially musicians and fans also emphasize the autonomy of the genre and refer to the roots especially in Mpantsula, assurance and style of music that was formed in the 1950s. He was similar to hip-hop at the same time music, dance and lifestyle and has also been greatly influenced by the former canal. As a further influences and stylistic devices are: Piano, Percussion, bubblegum ( a variant of the Mbaqanga Music), Kwela and the South African variant of gospel music, isicathamiya.

Within the kwaito scene, therefore, is the definition of Hip Hop is an important issue. Typical scene clothing of Spotti hat are ( a flexible coneflower) and the All Stars Shoes: initially produced by the U.S. brand Converse, now so often imitated by South African companies that the locals they perceive as South African brand. Important media is the radio station, founded in 1997 YFM from Johannesburg, the South African music magazine Rage ( German: " anger " ) as a scene medium and the television series Yizo Yizo, which is instrumental in the spread of the popular genres.

Social background

The music is a symbol of the changes between the apartheid and post-apartheid generations. A prominent example is a 1995 published piece of kwaito musician Arthur, the ( German: " Kaffir " ) bears the title Kaffir - a South African term for blacks, the similarly negative connotations as the word nigger. The provocative title along with the sung in English Do not call me kaffir! was an expression of the new black self- consciousness. Although some radio stations boycotting the plate with a sales figure of over 150,000 to a hit. Other features, in which an offensive attitude towards the former apartheid policy expresses: The typical Spotti hat was worn especially in the English sport of cricket, the township slang Tsotsitaal contains numerous features of Afrikaans.

The music is currently the most popular style of music in South Africa (2010 ). It is especially heard of black youth that make up by far the largest ethnic group. So far, Kwaito is especially the music of blacks. White to exclude, inter alia from the scene that they speak almost only English or Afrikaans in South Africa. A few years after the turn of the millennium and the first white star of kwaito, Lekgoa developed.

Language

The language of kwaito musician is as diverse as the languages ​​of South Africa. The texts of Mdu or Arthur, for example, in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa. Some of the kwaito musician also use the language of their townships that are almost a dialect of the language, but for outsiders sometimes difficult to understand.

Known kwaito musician

Among the most famous Kwaito artists

• From South Africa: Mandoza, Mdu, Tkzee, Mekonko, Thembi, Bongo Maffin, Mafikizolo, Zola, Brenda Fassie, Alaska, and Mzambiya
• From Namibia: The Dogg, Gazza and Ees.

Sampler

• Mzansi Music - Young Urban South Africa, Third World featuring: Mandoza, Bongo Maffin, Mafikizolo, Zola, Mzekezeke, Brown, Mapaputsi, BOP, revolution and other

2006 published three compilations that provide a cross-section of Kwaito:

Kwaito Classics Vol 1 - the Early 90 's ( CCP Records, EMI SA) Kwaito Classics Vol 2 - the late 90 's ( CCP Records, EMI SA) Kwaito (CCP Records, EMI SA)

Examples of typical style pieces

• Trompies: Magasman
• Kabelo: Pantsula 4 Life
• Mafikizolo: The Journey