There are many traditional performance elements in South African culture. Music plays an essential role in the daily lives of its citizens and in most artistic expressions. South Africa is an extremely diverse country, with influences of many other nations found in it. The music scene is reflective of this and embraces social and political themes and progress. The Mbaqanga is a style of music that originated in the early 1960s. It has strong roots in the Zulu tradition and continues to influence local music today, and also around the world. Tourists staying in the best Cape Town hotels will most likely hear this music while having lunch in a local café.
It developed in the South African shebeens in the early 1960s. In Zulu, the term Mbaqanga refers to a common cornmeal porridge. Because most of the musicians were unable to establish themselves in the city, and it was difficult to sustain oneself in the rural communities, the Mbaqanga became the musical staple food. These early musicians had a difficult time in all areas. They had a struggle trying to get music played on the radio and would often set up and perform on the streets outside the record stores. This was an effective grassroots way of establishing a fledgling audience base. Because Western instruments were often used in the Mbaqanga, it developed into a type of South African jazz.
The style gained instant popularity once the South African Broadcasting Corporation gave it its initial airtime. Some of the early Mbaqanga artists include Miriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Dolly Rathebe. It’s popularity was strong for many years before it began to be replaced by the sounds of Bubblegum. While Bubblegum music was highly influenced by the Mbaqanga, it took on its own style and became greatly popular. Western pop influences during the 70s also contributed to the decline of Mbaqanga. It saw a brief revival in the early 1980s when Paul Simon included South African music in his album Graceland.
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