MbaqangaMbaqanga (Zulu pronunciation:) is a style of South African music that emerged in the early 1960s in the urban townships, particularly around Johannesburg. It draws from a variety of ethnic traditions, including Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Pedi, and Tsonga musical elements. Mbaqanga blends traditional South African vocal harmonies, rhythmic patterns, and dance styles with influences from marabi, kwela, and Western popular music such as jazz.
Zulu musicThe Zulu people are a South African ethnic group. Many Zulu musicians have become a major part of South African music, creating a huge influence in the music industry. A number of Zulu-folk derived styles have become well known across South Africa and abroad. Zulu music has dominated many genres in South Africa, especially house music, folk music, acapella, choral music and gospel. In fact, some of the most popular songs from South Africa are in isiZulu.
JohannesburgLargest city in South AfricaCity in Gauteng, South AfricaJohannesburg ( , US also , Afrikaans:; Xhosa: eGoli; Zulu: iGoli), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "the City of Gold", is the capital city of the province of Gauteng and the largest city in South Africa.MarabiMarabi is a style of music and dance form that evolved and emerged in South Africa between the 1890s and 1920s. The early part of the century saw the increasing urbanisation of black South Africans in mining centres such as the gold mining area around Johannesburg - the Witwatersrand. This led to the development of township slums or ghettos, and out of this hardship came forth new forms of music, marabi and kwela amongst others.
KwelaKwela is a genre of street music originating from southern Africa. It is distinguished by its prominent use of the pennywhistle, jazz-inspired elements, and a distinctive skiffle-like rhythm. It evolved from the marabi sound.
Township (South Africa)In South Africa, the terms township and location usually refer to an under-developed, racially segregated urban area, from the late 19th century until the end of apartheid, which were reserved for non-whites, namely Black South Africans, Cape Coloureds and Indian South Africans. Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities. The term township also has a distinct legal meaning in South Africa's system of land title, which carries no racial connotations.
Music genreA music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. Genre is to be distinguished from musical form and musical style, although in practice these terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Music can be divided into genres in numerous ways, sometimes broadly and with polarity, e.g., popular music as opposed to art music or folk music, or, as another example, religious music and secular music.
South AfricaSouth Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. The country consists of nine provinces, and is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 miles) of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. South Africa also encloses Lesotho.
Group Areas ActGroup Areas Act was the title of three acts of the Parliament of South Africa enacted under the apartheidgovernment of South Africa. The acts assigned racial groups to different residential and business sections in urban areas in a system of urban apartheid. An effect of the law was to exclude people of colour from living in the most developed areas, which were restricted to Whites (e.g. Sea Point, Claremont).JazzJazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, hymns, marches, vaudeville song, and dance music. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in both traditional and popular music.
African AmericansEthnic and cultural group in the United States Ethnic group African AmericansProportion of Black Americans in U.S. counties, as of the 2020 U.S. censusTotal populationAlone (one race): 41,104,200 12.40% of the total U.S. populationIn combination (mixed race): 5,832,533 1.76% of the total U.S. populationAlone or in combination: 46,936,733 14.16% of the total U.S. populationRegions with significant populationsPredominantly the Southern United States and American urban centers, including: Texas3,552,997 Georgia3,320,513 Florida3,246,381 New York2,986,172 California2,237,044LanguagesAmerican English (incl.
MalawiMalawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 km2 (45,747 sq mi) and has a population of 22,224,282 (as of July 2025). Lilongwe is its capital and largest city. The part of Africa now known as Malawi was settled around the 10th century by the Akafula, also known as the Abathwa.
GhettoA ghetto is a part of a city where people of a particular race, religion and/or minority group live closely together and apart from other people, especially as a result of political, social, legal, religious, environmental or economic pressure. Ghettos are often known for being more impoverished than other areas of the city. Versions of such restricted areas have been found across the world, each with their own names, classifications, and groupings of people.
candorRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.