There are many different styles of South African music. One of the most famous South African music styles is iscathamiya. This music style was created by the Zulu people. The Zulus are an ethnic group. Iscathamiya is performed by groups of men. The men usually dance and sing when they perform iscathamiya. The most popular iscathamiya group is Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This group mixed iscathamiya music with mbube music. Mbube is sung without instruments. People around the world love Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s unique music style. In fact, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has won many awards over the years. They have also made more than 30 albums!
Another South African music style is marabi. Marabi music began in Johannesburg, a city in South Africa. Marabi soon became known in other South African cities. It was very popular in the early 1900s. Unlike mbube music, marabi music is played with instruments. The guitar, piano, and banjo are the main instruments used in marabi.
Marabi was very important to the creation of other music styles. One kind of music that came out of marabi is kwela. People began to play kwela music in the 1950s. Musicians used penny whistles to play kwela. A penny whistle is a woodwind instrument with six holes. Bands would play kwela on the streets, and people would dance. Another kind of music that came out of marabi is mbaqanga. Mbaqanga is also a kind of dance music. People like to dance to mbaqanga because it has a good rhythm. Mbaqanga musicians play drums to create this rhythm.
