Kalindula is a kind of

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

which gives its name to a style of

popular music Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...

in southern-central

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. It originated in the late 20th century and is popular in

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...

and is also found in

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

and

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

. Some people claim it originated in the

Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

but this cannot be fully supported by the evidence. It combines features of 20th century popular music with rhythmic and metric elements. The kalindula musical style is characterized by an up-tempo rhythm and, in addition to the kalindula bass guitar, one or more hand-crafted guitars which are called 'banjos' (pronounced locally as 'bahn-jo'). Homemade

drum set A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair of matching drumsticks ...

s are also used in some kalindula bands. Kalindula bands in urban areas often incorporate

electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...

s, electric bass and modern drum sets into their ensembles. In the Southern Province of Zambia, kalindula bands compete to participate in the annual Tonga Music Festival sponsored by Chikuni Radio station. Winning groups are offered recording contracts by the radio station and their tapes are sold in markets throughout the province. Current favorites in the Southern Province are Green Mamba and

Mashombe Blue Jeans Mashombe Blue Jeans is one of a number of ''kalindula'' ensembles from the Southern Province of Zambia. Like other ''kalindula'' groups, they sing and play a style of Zambian music that blends traditional with modern musical materials. Their r ...

Amayenge Amayenge is a popular Zambian music group. Started by Chris Chali in 1978 in Choma, the band was originally called Crossbones, one of many Zambian acts that had sprung up to do gigs based on rock. Later the band became known as the New Crossbones, ...

, winners of the 2005

Ngoma Music Award The Ngoma Awards are an annual Zambian arts award ceremony which recognise the nation's artistic talent. The awards are organised by the National Arts Council of Zambia. The Ngoma Awards are Zambia's only official national artistic honours and a ...

, are another well-known and long-established group, together with

Distro Kuomboka Distro Kuomboka were formed at Kabwe in 1979. They are Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being i ...

band, winners of several regional and national awards as 'Best Band', who dominate the Kalindula scene on the Copperbelt.

External links

Chikuni Radio

Kalindula Music Videos

Other information

Zambian musical instruments Malawian music Zimbabwean musical instruments Bass guitars

See also

External links

Other information