Why go
Listening across genres reveals more than a single national soundtrack. Kwaito emerged from urban Black South African experience, while artists such as Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim and Miriam Makeba shaped jazz and popular music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo offers a contrasting choral tradition.
The full story
South African music has developed through many languages, communities and political periods. Jazz artists including Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Miriam Makeba and Jonas Gwangwa became important voices in and beyond the country. Ladysmith Black Mambazo brought a different choral sound to international audiences. Kwaito grew as an urban style associated with Black South African life around the end of apartheid, using dance rhythms and local speech. Afrikaans music is no single tradition either: mainstream performers and the punk band Fokofpolisiekar show some of its range. Johnny Clegg’s groups Juluka and Savuka crossed cultural lines in their sound and public careers. A useful way to explore this range is to choose a genre before looking for a current performance or recording. That keeps a live music plan tied to what is actually on, while the artists and styles give you a way to hear the history behind it.